The Marriage Act 2015 was signed by the Presidential Commission, filling in for President Higgins who is continuing his visit to the United States.
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The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, an Irish advocacy group, on its Twitter page praised the commission for signing the law.
Ireland became the first country to pass the law by popular vote after 62.1 percent of people supported gay marriage in a May referendum.
These are expected to start taking place from next month.
The president’s endorsement was the final hurdle for the bill after legal challenges briefly delayed the legislation from coming into effect.
Last week, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said that soon we will have Christmas weddings of people who thought they would never be allowed to marry.
It officially makes Ireland the first country to put same-sex marriage in place through a vote of citizens.
The Seanad passed the bill last week.
Zappone proposed to her partner, Ann Louise Gilligan, on live TV after the results of the referendum were announced.
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“It is a deeply emotional moment for those of us who have campaigned for so long”, Zappone said in a statement.
