This article is from page 16 of the 2012-09-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE latest statistical report taken from the 2011 National Census of Population has revealed that divorce is on the rise in Clare, with a record number of divorced people now living in the county since the measure was introduced to the statute books in 1996.
The census returns have shown that there are now 2,252 divorcees living in the county, with the divorces figures on the rise in keeping with the nationwide 800 per cent increase in the numbers of divorces between 1996 and 2011.
Of this 2,252, women are in the majority, with 1,280 female divorcees living in the county as compared to 972 men.
And, from the overall figure there is almost an equal divided between urban and rural, with 1,110 of divorcees living in urban areas as compared to 1,142 in rural areas.
In August it was revealed that despite the cost of divorce thought to be a deterrent in most parts of Ireland, Clare saw a rise of 40 per cent in the number of couples getting divorced in the county in 2011.
According to the figures for the county released by the Central Statistic Office, 69 divorces were granted to Clare couples last year – with a further 66 applications for divorce being made.
Experienced Clare-based family law solicitor Marie Keane said the rise could be attributed to the type of divorces being negotiated as well as the age profile of couples getting divorced.
“The vast majority of divorce cases are now being settled before going to court, with both parties consenting. From my experience I would guess up to 95 per cent of cases settle in this manner,” she told The Clare People .
Meanwhile, other census figures show that 1,375 divorcees in Clare have remarried – the breakdown of the figures being 776 men as against 629 women.
In addition to this, there are now 1,577 separated women living in the county as compared to 1,294 men.