The highest number of new Irish citizens come from the UK, followed by Poland and Romania.
5,000 people from 135 countries all over the world will be granted Irish citizenship at six separate ceremonies in Killarney on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The bulk of the new Irish citizens hail originally from the United Kingdom (982), with Poland (715) and Romania (496) the next best represented nationalities at ceremonies in the INEC in Killarney, the third year in a row ceremonies of this scale have been held outside Dublin.
The 5,000 successful applicants will receive their certificates of naturalisation at the ceremonies and take the oath of fidelity to the Irish State.
The ceremonies follow a decision of the Court of Appeal last November, which clarified the law in relation to residency requirements for citizenship candidates. An earlier High Court decision had led to the postponement of citizenship ceremonies for most of the second half of 2019.
Welcoming Ireland’s newest citizens on Monday, Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD said: “The possibilities opened up to you in Ireland today are almost limitless; perhaps one day, you or a child or grandchild of yours, could be up here as a Government Minister, or as a Judge, or perhaps the President of Ireland.”
Minister for Justice & Equality, @CharlieFlanagan welcoming almost 900 of Ireland’s newest citizens at the 1st of 3 ceremonies here in the @GlenINECArena today. #CitizenshipCeremonies pic.twitter.com/TuNyfbYZhM
— Department of Justice 🇮🇪 (@DeptJusticeIRL) March 2, 2020
The Presiding Officer for Monday’s ceremonies was retired High Court Judge, Bryan McMahon, who administered the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State.
Retired Circuit Court Judge Paddy McMahon will preside at the ceremonies on Tuesday, where Ireland’s newest citizens will be addressed by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, David Stanton, TD, who will tell them: “Today as you leave here, as proud new citizens of this Republic and constitutional democracy, our history is your history and, in turn, the narrative of your life is now part of our history.”
The 5,000 people granted citizenship this week brings to 132,000 people from 180 countries the number of people to have been granted certificates of citizenship since the introduction of conferral ceremonies in 2011.
Details of future ceremonies and the process for applying for citizenship can be found here.
Main image via Twitter/Department of Justice & Equality
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