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3,500 PEOPLE WILL officially become Irish citizens today and tomorrow at ceremonies in Killarney, Co Kerry.
People from over 130 countries will receive their certificates of naturalisation and take an oath of fidelity to the Irish State in four separate ceremonies at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney.
The ceremonies will take place both today and tomorrow.
Minister of State for Justice James Browne and Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte are set to host the ceremonies, while retired High Court Judge Bryan McMahon and retired Judge Paddy McMahon will preside over the ceremonies.
Speaking ahead of the ceremonies, Minister Browne said the conferring of citizenship “opens new doors” for people to “enjoy the fundamental rights as set out in the Irish Constitution, to vote in referenda that may change the Constitution, to get and to travel with an Irish passport, to serve on a jury, to run for election to Government”.
“These are life changing rights and ones which I hope you enjoy,” he added.
Minister Rabbitte said that Ireland is a place of “great diversity and openness”.
“We do not ask of you to relinquish or replace your own sense of identity associated with your homeland when you become an Irish citizen. We want you to bring your culture, history and traditions with you. By sharing them with us, Ireland is richer for it,” she said.
The majority of the new citizens come from the UK (375), with people from India (326), Pakistan (282), Poland (170) and Syria (159) making up the five highest national groupings.
A total of 158 citizenship ceremonies have taken place since they were first introduced, with people from over 180 countries receiving their certificates of naturalisation.
Since 2011, approximately 155,000 people have received Irish citizenship since 2011.
In July 2020, Ireland was the first European country to host an e-citizenship ceremony as a response to Covid-19 restrictions. This was followed by three online celebration events in 2021.
In June, 950 people were conferred with Irish citizenship in the first in-person citizenship ceremonies since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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I remember going to our ceremony in Aug 2013. A very happy day after a year of paperwork, a lot of money, and a lot of waiting. Life has been infinitely easier and more streamlined now having Irish citizenship, and I do not take it for granted!
Welcome, one and all! Tá fáilte róimh go léir!
Brilliant news! Congratulations and a warm welcome to all.
I’d say those horrible right wing maggots who have infiltrated the east wall and any other protest groups will be mouthing out of them…..I saw them gathered in Dublin on Saturday……some shower of gits
@WiseUp: My wife is receiving her citizenship today. However the people of East Wall have a genuine concern over mainly young men being moved to their area without consultation. I fully support them and I’m obviously not a right wing maggot.
@Ruairi Colton: I support them too but the fact is that whole group have been infiltrated by right wing maggots.
The right wings tactics are to infiltrate frustrated and aggrieved people and spread their rhetoric.
@WiseUp: There are always fringe elements trying to infiltrate any protest, whatever it’s for. They learned that from the political parties who choose an aggrieved group and lend their support. It shouldnt take away from the real concerns though of the people of East Wall and other communities throughout the country. There are already tens of thousands of young unvetted men in small country towns and urban areas also.
@WiseUp: these right wing extremists learned from the masters. Sinn Fein spent decades attaching themselves to every protest group or anyone who had a grievance, poured fuel on the flames and claimed to be the only ones who could solve your problems. Left, Right, it’s just a vicious circle.
@Aileen Lawlor: No, that’s not what I said. I’m East Wall born and bread, my Mam is still in the family home and my sister and brother both live in the area and none of them are right wing, I support completely the locals right to protest but the absolute facts are that the right wing maggots use these situations to infiltrate and spread their narrative.
@Paul Shepherd: True
Hope they all enjoyed the drive down to Co. Kerry for something that resembles a political rally for the crowd that are currently in power.
This is a disgrace. I was never consulted about this. What about the homeless??
@Sal Paradise: Why do people like you always take a shot at the homeless on these articles?
@Sal Paradise: They paid nnearly €1200 each for their citizenship. I expect four million or so in the coffers can be considered helpful.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: I wouldn’t bother, he’s does this regularly.
Great man in his own head.
@Sal Paradise: What about the homeless? This is an entirely different topic. I suspect that you don’t care about homeless people or anyone else for that matter.
@Sal Paradise: I read your comment as sarcasm. Was I wrong?
@Tom Leddy: At least someone got it. I’ll write #sarcasm next time so no confusion.
@G Row.: I haven’t take a shot at the homeless. More a shot at those whose mantra is “look after our own first”. Whoosh….
@Sal Paradise: Of course you didn’t, sad individual.
@G Row.: Sort out your anger issues lad. There are organisations out there that can help. It’s ok to ask for help.
I am curious that the new citizens are asked to pledge loyalty to the State rather than loyalty to the Constitution enacted by the people in referenda. The State, ie the Establishment, is not loyal to the Constitution.
@John Colgan: That would be because that’s what the Constitution requires of them A9:S3 “Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental political duties of all citizens” Also “The State” is not the “the Establishmen”
Welcome
Welcome and thanks…i say thanks because i know a good few polish and Indian families that have come her and they work around the clock to make a new life…and contribute to the community and the tax system
@Dave Ryan: The Asian Indian family philosophy is incredible, tight and very industrious. I have nothing but respect for them. Brilliant work ethic.
Chinese work ethic not too far behind, if at all, either. One never hears any moaning or complaining…they just get on with it. You go to any country they’ve set up home in across Europe, the States etc, and you’ll see the same. I love that.
Welcome all!
They now have the same rights as all others to face unending waiting queues in A+E, pay rip off prices for this and that including rent, perhaps never have the possiblity of owning a house, and soon enough be as pretty fed up with the political system as most other people.
@Keth Warsaw: all fair points, yet they still chose to become Irish citizens. We have our problems (many of them) but despite them, we also have a country worth living in with great communities worth contributing to.
@Joey Navinski: Agreed.
@Joey Navinski: it’s called sarcasm. It’s an Irish trait, although the English are quite good at it also. Not so much the continental Europeans.
FF/FG voters for the next run at the local and general elections
@Noreen Waters: you don’t need to be a citizen to vote.
I see Irish Citizenship / Passport as a pledge to be loyal to the state and to uphold its laws etc, etc, and given our membership of the E.U., it becomes even more valuable. If people are allowed to become citizens, which I have absolutely no problem with. Why are they allowed to retain their original passports as well. You can’t be loyal to your wife and mistress at the same time. Of course, there are obvious exceptions but in general, it leaves too many legal. economic and cultural loopholes, (e.g. child marriage, equality) to exploit.
love it !
Congratulations, now can you all stick a pair of boots on and declare for Ireland? Just a thought. Welcome aboard!
Congratulations to our New Citizens
I am curious as to why Polish nationals would take up Irish citizenship. As EU nationals, they have same rights re residency, social protection, voting excpt for referenda etc. Is it true they must give up Polish citizenship to take up Irish, as EU law stipulates you can only hold one?
Genuinely curious, please correct me!
No doubt ’twill be a big RTE news article, this evening, as authorised by Dep. Coveney’s brother.
have your say