Ireland's Housing Crisis Delays Marriages: 10% Drop Since 2015, Average Age Rises

Aileen Brilly, 33, and Tim Carley, 32, from Dublin, got engaged last August after years of housing struggles. They bought their North Strand home in 2015 but only moved in five years later due to significant structural defects, which an engineer deemed an «unsafe building». The house, initially costing €277,000, required an additional €200,000 for renovations, paid alongside their mortgage.

Brilly and Carley, who met in New York in 2015, spent years living in Carley’s childhood bedroom. They had planned to marry and have children by 31, but now plan to marry in 2028, when Brilly will be nearly 36, causing her anxiety about her age. Carley notes that none of his friends have children yet, which is unusual for their age group, attributing this to Ireland’s housing crisis.

Bishop Denis Nulty, president of Catholic marriage agency Accord, stated that Ireland’s housing crisis is the «biggest obstacle to couples getting married today». This is supported by a 10% drop in marriages in the Republic over the last decade, from 22,025 in 2015 to 19,898 last year. The average age for brides rose from 33 in 2015 to 36 last year, and for grooms from 35 to 38. The average age of first-time buyers increased from 34 in 2016 to 35 last year, and the median age of all homebuyers from 35 in 2010 to 40 in 2024.

An Accord survey last year found 48% of 25-34 year olds planning to marry would have done so sooner if not for the housing crisis. International research across 52 countries from 2009-2018, including OECD nations, found higher housing costs are «significantly associated» with lower marriage rates. Mortgage brokers confirm couples prioritize home deposits over weddings, viewing home ownership as a more «urgent milestone» due to financial realities.