It seems that because of Ireland’s economic situation more and more unhappy couples are being forced to stay together.
 
According to top family lawyer, Eugene Davy, unemployment, pay cuts and the property crash has meant that couples cannot afford to live independent lives and as a results are staying together.
 
In 2009 there were 3,716 divorces, which came  before the courts in Ireland. That is an eight percent decrease on 2008’s figures.  Also the number of applications for judicial separation dropped by 19 percent to 1,627.
 
“Generally speaking, the gateway to a separation is the sale of the family home,” said Davy. "Or alternatively, one spouse gets an increased mortgage to buy out the other.
 
"Both of those options are no longer there because there is no market to sell the home. On top of that, lending institutions are not giving out loans because of the credit crunch. That is a huge factor.
 
"In my work, I see that people are deciding to stay together because the consequences of separating are too drastic because it may mean one, or both, of the spouses and their children may have to live in rented accommodation. That is the main explanation," he told the Irish Independent.
 
Even the number of couples seeking annulments dropped last year by ten percent to 55. The number of separations granted under domestic violence legislation dropped by six percent and barring orders fell by 12 percent.