60% live together before marriage - survey

Newly married Irish couples aren't falling victim to the seven-year itch, according to the findings of a new study.

The study also reports that almost 60 per cent of couples choose to live together before tying the knot.

The Married Life - the First 7 Yearssurvey, which was undertaken by Catholic marriage advisory group Accord, reveals that two-thirds of couples who have been married for up to seven years, are "very happy" with their marriage.

Some 63 per cent of newlyweds claim that their relationship has strengthened since they tied the knot.

According to the study, couples are increasingly leaving it later to get married, with the average age of those taking the plunge now standing at 32 years. In addition, the number of people choosing to live with their spouse before marriage is 58 per cent of all couples.

Over half of the 712 couples surveyed by Accord said that they'd known their partner for at least three years prior to marriage while 33 per cent had been in relationships for one year before they wed. Just 11 per cent of couples tied the knot less than a year after they had met.

One in four couples described themselves as "not at all religious", but the majority claimed to be "moderately religious" and said they attended religious service either regularly or occasionally.

The survey also reveals that most people still believe in getting married before having children, with

93 per cent of couples saying that their children were born after they had walked down the aisle.

Furthermore, nine out of ten couples stated that they would recommend marriage to another couple.

Although the study shows that marriage is seen as a positive by most of those who have undertaken it, 7 per cent of those couples surveyed admitted that they had considered separation or divorce. Most respondents stated that joint decision making was the "major disadvantage" associated with tying the knot.

Bishop Willie Walsh, president of Accord, said the survey showed evidence that the deeply felt need for a life-long loving relationship was alive and well.

He said: "The challenge for all of us is to work for a society which truly cares for marriage and family. Loving families are not only good for the members of that family, they are also good for the wellbeing of our whole society.

"The survey's finding that more than three out of four couples are very happy with their marriage is indeed good news. It is also heartening that the majority of couples agree that their relationship of love has strengthened since their marriage," said Dr Walsh.