Marriage in Ireland, 1660–1925

Explores how marriage in Ireland was perceived, negotiated and controlled by church and state as well as by individuals across three centuries.

Maria Luddy (Author), Mary O'Dowd (Author)

9781108731904, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 June 2020

460 pages, 20 b/w illus. 11 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 2.2 cm, 0.75 kg

'… an ambitious study … for readers hoping to supplement or expand their work on marriage, family relationships, or women's legal and social positions in Ireland, this volume opens new questions and sets readers on the path to answering them.' Claire Arnold, H-Albion

What were the laws on marriage in Ireland, and did church and state differ in their interpretation? How did men and women meet and arrange to marry? How important was patriarchy and a husband's control over his wife? And what were the options available to Irish men and women who wished to leave an unhappy marriage? This first comprehensive history of marriage in Ireland across three centuries looks below the level of elite society for a multi-faceted exploration of how marriage was perceived, negotiated and controlled by the church and state, as well as by individual men and women within Irish society. Making extensive use of new and under-utilised primary sources, Maria Luddy and Mary O'Dowd explain the laws and customs around marriage in Ireland. Revising current understandings of marital law and relations, Marriage in Ireland, 1660–1925 represents a major new contribution to Irish historical studies.

Introduction
Part I. What is a Marriage?: 1. A legal marriage?
2. Couple beggars
Part II. Ways to Marriage: 3. Meeting and matching with a partner
4. Courtship behaviour
5. Breach of promise
6. Abductions
Part III. Happy Ever After?: 7. Marital relations
8. Adultery and sex outside marriage
9. Bigamy
Part IV. The Unmaking of Marriage: 10. Marital violence
11. Desertion
12. Divorce
Conclusion
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]