A LONG-TERM Dublin couple will become one of the first to be legally joined under the country’s new civil partnership legislation later today.

Although Barry Dignam and Hugh Walsh will not be the first couple to be joined since the legislation was introduced on 1 January, they will be the first to do so without seeking an exemption of the usual three month notice that couples are required give to the General Registrar Office, the Irish Times reports.

The couple appeared on RTÉ’s Late Late Show last Friday and spoke again to host Ryan Tubridy on 2fm this morning. Walsh said that following their appearance of the show last week, the couple had been met with unanticipated support: “People are running up to us in the street saying ‘you guys are great’… that was something I never envisioned happening in Ireland”.

Dignam told Tubridy that a big party was planned for after the ceremony today, and that they would then jet off for a honeymoon in Italy.

The couple’s civil partnership ceremony will take place later this afternoon at a Dublin registry office.

More than 100 couples have announced their intention to register as civil partners since the legislation was introduced, RTÉ reports.