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Irish citizens what do you think of Brits getting Irish passports?

109 replies

Itscoldouthere · 10/04/2019 22:39

I’d be very interested to know what Irish people think.
I’m a remainer and have always been very happy to be considered European, I lived in London in a multicultural environment and I have never identified with being British and certainly not English.
I’ve just got an Irish passport for myself and my 2 DC, I was born in Ireland, my parents lived there for 12 years, I’m the youngest of 6 we were all born in Ireland, both parents British, but my maternal grandparents were Irish. We left when I was 2 years old so I have no real memories of Ireland.
My husband is Scottish and proud of being so.
He keeps joking that we are fake Irish. He also thinks that Irish people must be pissed off with Brits just wanting to be identified as Irish for the passport.
I think he’s probably right, but would love to know what Irish people think.

OP posts:
girlinayellowdress · 12/04/2019 20:12

My dads grandparents were Irish. If my dad got an Irish passport could I get one on the back of my dads one? Academic really as he won't apply for one as he voted leave.

S1naidSucks · 12/04/2019 20:20

I’m afraid not, girlinayellowdress. It only goes as far back as your grandparents being born in Ireland, North or South. Even if he got a passport, you couldn’t.

Theimpossiblegirl · 12/04/2019 20:50

I was chatting to DD age 15 about this. I think the kids and dh are entitled but not me, as it's dh's parents who are Irish. DD thinks that's fine as if I'm out of the EU I can buy cheaper booze so it's worth the longer queue. Not quite sure it's going to work that way. Smile

SmarmyMrMime · 12/04/2019 21:47

My DCs are Irish citizens... the Irish government just doesn't know it yet. We always intended that they will have dual passports in the future (born and British passport holders prior to 2016) but felt that they were better off with 5yr British passports through childhood rather than 3yr Irish passports. I am pleased that they will be able to remain citizens of the EU if that offers them opportunities in the future. I'm of an age where the prospect of losing freedom of movement is unlikely to inhibit my choices. We haven't seen the urgency in applying for passports yet, the opportunities will open up as the DCs approach adulthood.

They go to Ireland most years to see their older relatives and cousins. Unlike another set of cousins in the UK, they aren't immersed in the Irish diaspora, but we have always acknowledged their Irishness. Their great-grandfather fought towards Ireland becoming an independent country 100 years ago; I regret that the ruling class of my country treated Ireland and its people so poorly, not that it was great with its own working classes, women and other parts of the Empire.

Ironically, out of all the sets of cousins, it's the ones that are mixed heritage that carry the more Irish/ Gaelic names than those of single Irish heritage living there. DS1 has literally travelled the full length of Ireland from the most northern part in Donegal to the most southern point in Cork... DS2 was kind of there in utero Grin

Brexit hasn't really altered our plans for our DCs or the way we view their dual nationality/ ethnicity.

joaninthesun · 13/04/2019 09:57

Ironically, out of all the sets of cousins, it's the ones that are mixed heritage that carry the more Irish/ Gaelic names than those of single Irish heritage living there.

Not sure I’m misunderstanding but are you saying here that you children are more Irish than their Irish cousins living in Ireland Hmm because they have Irish names and have travelled the length of Ireland Hmm

Exitstrategist · 13/04/2019 10:07

Have spoken to a couple of people recently in London who despite having never been to Ireland and don’t associate with being Irish cultrurally are applying for Irish passports due to a grandparent. Find it a bit strange really. There’s a sniff of having your cake and eating it.

Parker231 · 13/04/2019 10:38

@Exitstrategist - I imagine they are doing so to protect their future opportunities of freedom of movement which Brexit will remove for the UK.

ContinuityError · 13/04/2019 11:04

SmarmyMrMime children’s Irish passports are valid for 5 years - the 3 year passports were only for the under 3s (not sure they exist anymore?)

girlinayellowdress · 13/04/2019 12:11

@S1naidSucks bugger! But thanks for the reply anyway. Ironically I have ensured my children carry on our Irish surname as it was going to 'die out' with me. Love the country but couldn't uproot and live there

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