Karen Dempsey
Hi I’m Karen, and I’m delighted you’re here!
I’m a HSE Registered Solemniser in Dublin, Ireland, a Licensed Psychotherapist, Psychosynthesis Coach, Registered Nurse and founder of Feministry and Entheos Ireland.
This means I can Legally Solemnise marriages in the Republic of Ireland, in the venue of your choice on any day of the week, and it is my great joy to create personalised ceremonies to mark any and all of life’s milestones- I love what I do!
I live in Dublin with my husband Liam, our teenage son Beineán and baby daughter Roisin, and our dog Milo. I spend my days creating and performing ceremonies, seeing clients, running around after the kids and dog and a million other things in between.
ABOUT ME
When I get the chance (and when restrictions allow!) I love to disappear off to the mountains or the sea to recharge my batteries and reconnect with my soul.
I had a traditional Irish Catholic upbringing, so I have a great love for and understanding of the rituals and traditions I was reared with, but I’ve always known my path was outside the traditional. I treasure the beauty of our rich language and ancient traditions, and I wanted to find a path that felt authentic and soulful to me, without the rules and hierarchy I was accustomed to. I also realised that a huge number of my friends and colleagues felt the same, which is why I’m so delighted to be able to offer a non-traditional (but still deeply meaningful) alternative.
The main thing you need to know about me is that I’m one of life’s enthusiasts- I don’t believe in spending time on anything that doesn’t light me up, and I don’t believe you should either! This is why I’ve chosen the path I’m on- I’ve spent many years training, travelling and upskilling to bring me to where I am now, and I love every aspect of my work in this world. I am deeply passionate about choice, equality, diversity, inclusivity and social justice, let’s celebrate it all!!!
I perform non-denominational, athiest, agnostic, spiritual, humanist, same-faith, no-faith and interfaith ceremonies with equal enthusiasm. I have no agenda about the content of your ceremony, other than that it reflects what is most meaningful to you.
In addition to wedding ceremonies, I perform ceremonies to mark all of life’s milestones, from baby-namings to funerals and everything in between. It is my privilege and joy to create ceremonies that are as unique and varied as the people I work with, and I love to bring your ideas to life!
So whether you’re here because you’ve recently gotten engaged and you’re researching options for your Ceremony, or because you’d like to explore your own life’s journey in more depth, you’ve come to the right place!
Please take some time to look around and get to know me, and if you’d like to discuss your requirements in more depth, please contact me via phone or email and we’ll take it from there.
Huge love,
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YES! I am a HSE Registered Solemniser, and as such I can Legally Solemnise your marriage at your venue on your chosen day.
Nope! I am an OneWorld (Independent/Interfaith) Minister, which gives me the freedom to perform ceremonies for people of all faiths and/or none- including (and not limited to!) all of the above 😉 I am not a member of the Humanist Society, but my ceremonies are often referred to as humanist in style, in that I do not reference any particular God or belief system unless specifically requested to do so. I have no agenda with regard to your ceremony, it can be as spiritual, secular or atheist as you choose, using whatever language, music and readings you would like. I also have no requirement to speak about any parent organisation during your ceremony. OneWorld Ministers take a vow of inclusivity, so no couple would ever be refused on the grounds of any diversity of gender, orientation, colour, nationality, ability, culture or any other reason- within the bounds of Irish law.
Because I am authorised to carry out ceremonies for couples of all faiths and none, I am listed on the HSE Register of Solemnisers as a Religious Solemniser, as opposed to Secular. This sometimes causes confusion for couples who want a secular/atheist/humanist ceremony. Please know that this classification has absolutely no bearing on the content of your ceremony, and simply affords me the freedom to include religious content if specifically requested by a couple.
Yes! I can Legally Solemnise your marriage at any time, on any day of the week, in any venue of your choosing that is compliant with Section 52 of the Civil Registrations Act 2004. The main requirements being that the Solemnisation takes place at an identifiable address which is open to the general public. Ceremonies with no legal component can take place pretty much anywhere, (as long as we have permission from the owner!) and I am happy to work with you on this. (Ski weddings & cliff-side weddings are a speciality!) 😉
Once we have established that I’m available on your date, your booking is confirmed upon receipt of a €150 booking deposit. The balance (usually €450) will be payable in advance of your ceremony, either via PayPal, credit/debit card or bank transfer, along with mileage fees or any additional agreed expenses.