COUPLES in Ireland increasingly seek marriage counselling and lessons in preparing for marriage, new figures show.
Marriage and relationship counsellors delivered almost 51,000 hours of sessions last year.
The figure has increased year-on-year and represents a 17 per cent surge on the 43,600 counselling hours completed in 2010.
In the north 2,980 people attended marriage preparation sessions during 2013. The organisation delivered 3,721 hours of counselling in Northern Ireland last year.
More than 7,600 couples have also sought marriage preparation lessons ahead of their big day - a 9 per cent increase since 2010.
Four in every five people cited problems with listening and communication and stress or anxiety as reasons for seeking relation-ship counselling.
The figures were released yesterday by Irish Catholic organisation Accord, which operates 58 centres across Ireland.
Accord president Bishop Christopher Jones said increased demand for marriage preparation courses was a "positive development". He urged couples experiencing difficulties to seek support.
"Difficult economic times have put pressure on people and in turn on their marriage and on their family relationships," he said.
"We need to support those preparing for and living the sacrament of marriage and help to protect the institution of marriage and the family."
Meanwhile, engaged Belfast couple Declan Shannon and Emma McVeigh received a special blessing ahead of St Valentine's day.
The 26-year-olds, who will marry in August, received a blessing from Fr John Nevin at Accord's Belfast office.