Marriages Act, 1936

What is this act about?

This law updates older marriage laws from 1844 and 1870, mainly by changing who is responsible for approvals and validating specific church licenses. It ensures that certain past approvals and marriages are considered valid despite previous administrative changes.

Who it applies to: The Minister for Local Government and Public Health; The Bishop of Kilmore and Elphin and Ardagh.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Administrative law
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Amendments to Section 7 of the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844.
Amendments to Section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870.
Validation of a specific licence for the Church of Aughavas.
The operational date and validity of a licence for the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Dublin, and marriages performed there.

Who does this act apply to?

The Minister for Local Government and Public Health.
The Bishop of Kilmore and Elphin and Ardagh.
The Archbishop of Dublin.
Individuals whose marriages were solemnized in the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Dublin, between December 21, 1931, and May 4, 1936.

What are the key points?

The "Lord Lieutenant" in the 1844 and 1870 Acts is replaced by the "Minister for Local Government and Public Health."
This change is effective from December 6, 1922.
Approvals given by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health between December 6, 1922, and February 14, 1936, for appointments under the 1844 Act are deemed valid.
A licence for the Church of Aughavas, issued on December 10, 1934, is deemed duly approved.
A licence for the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Dublin, issued on April 28, 1936, and approved on May 4, 1936, is deemed effective from December 21, 1931.
Marriages in the Parish Church of St. Thomas between December 21, 1931, and May 4, 1936, are not invalid due to the licence status.

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Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

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MARRIAGES ACT, 1936.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Amendment of section 7 of the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844.

Section 2

Amendment of section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870.

Section 3

Validation of licence of Church of Aughavas.

Section 4

Operation of licence of the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Dublin.

Section 5

Short title.

Number 47 of 1936.

MARRIAGES ACT, 1936.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7 OF THE MARRIAGES (IRELAND) ACT, 1844, AND

SECTION 34

OF THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES AND MARRIAGE LAW (IRELAND) AMENDMENT ACT, 1870 , TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN LICENCES ISSUED OR PURPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ISSUED UNDER THE SAID SECTION 34, AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE MATTERS AFORESAID. [27th November, 1936.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Amendment of section 7 of the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844.

1.—(1) Section 7 of the Marriages (Ireland) Act, 1844, shall be and is hereby amended by the substitution of the words “Minister for Local Government and Public Health” for the words “Lord Lieutenant” in both the places where the latter words occur in the said section.

(2)The amendment of the said section 7 effected by the foregoing sub-section of this section shall have and be deemed to have had effect as on and from the 6th day of December, 1922, and the said section 7 shall be construed and have effect and be deemed to have had, as on and from the said date, effect accordingly.

(3)In order to remove doubts, it is hereby declared and enacted that every approbation given or purported to be given, on or after the 6th day of December, 1922, and before the 14th day of February, 1936, by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health (including every approbation so given or purported to be given by that Minister under his former title of Minister for Local Government) of an appointment under the said section 7 shall be and be deemed always to have been a valid and effective approbation of such appointment for the purposes of the said section.

Amendment of section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870.

2.—(1)

Section 34

of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870 , shall be and is hereby amended by the substitution of the words “Minister for Local Government and Public Health” for the words “Lord Lieutenant or other general governor or governors of Ireland” now contained in the said section.

(2)The amendment of the said section 34 effected by the foregoing sub-section of this section shall have and be deemed to have had effect as on and from the 6th day of December, 1922, and the said section 34 shall be construed and have effect and be deemed to have had, as on and from the said date, effect accordingly.

(3)In order to remove doubts, it is hereby declared and enacted that every approval given or purported to be given on or after the 6th day of December, 1922, and before the passing of this Act, by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health (including every approval so given or purported to be given by that Minister under his former title of Minister for Local Government) to a licence issued under the said section 34 shall be and be deemed always to have been a valid and effective approval of such licence for the purposes of the said section.

Validation of licence of Church of Aughavas.

3.—The licence issued on the 10th day of December, 1934, by the Bishop of Kilmore and Elphin and Ardagh in respect of the Church of Aughavas in the Parish of Cloone and Diocese of Elphin and Ardagh (being a licence which was or purported to have been issued under section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870 , but was not approved of in the manner required by that section) shall be deemed for all purposes to have been duly approved of by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health in accordance with the said section 34 as amended by this Act, and accordingly the said licence shall not be or be deemed ever to have been invalid or ineffective by reason merely of such approval not having in fact been given.

Operation of licence of the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Dublin.

4.—(1) The licence which was issued under section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870 , on the 28th day of April, 1936, by the Archbishop of Dublin in respect of the Parish Church of St. Thomas, Marlborough Street, Dublin, and was approved of under the said section by the Minister for Local Government and Public Health on the 4th day of May, 1936, shall be deemed for all purposes to have been issued by the said Archbishop and approved of by the said Minister in accordance with the said section on the 21st day of December, 1931, and accordingly the said licence shall have and be deemed always to have had effect as on and from the said 21st day of December, 1931.

(2)No marriage which was solemnized in the said Parish Church of St. Thomas, Marlborough Street, Dublin, on or after the 21st day of December, 1931, and before the 4th day of May, 1936, shall be or be deemed ever to have been invalid or ineffective by reason only of the fact that no licence under section 34 of the Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1870 , had been issued and approved of in respect of the said Church in accordance with the said section 34 at the time when such marriage was solemnized therein.

Short title.

5.—This Act may be cited as the Marriages Act, 1936.

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