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Certificate of Irish Heritage is now available for Americans of Irish ancestry

Irish government seeks to honor the Irish roots of close to 40 million Americans

JANE WALSH,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Friday, December 9, 2011, 7:27 AM

Updated Friday, December 9, 2011, 10:24 AM

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A sample of a certificate of Irish heritage

Photo by www.heritagecertificate.ie

The Certificate of Irish Heritage is now available in the United States and around the world.
The certificate honors those ancestors who sacrificed so much by leaving Ireland and who created opportunities for later generations.

Up to 40 million Americans, 35 million with Irish ancestry and five million with Northern Irish roots are eligible to apply.

Irish Americans can also now honor and celebrate their ancestors with their own Certificate of Irish Heritage.

The Certificate is a Government of Ireland programme providing official recognition to people of Irish ancestry across the world.

In September, the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore T.D, presented the first Certificate of Irish Heritage to the family of Joe Hunter, a New York fireman, who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.
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Speaking at the presentation, Eamon Gilmore, Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs said, “engagement with the global Irish community is central to government policy and we are encouraging and facilitating people in giving expression to their Irish ancestry. The Certificate of Irish Heritage will allow us to maintain these strong ties now and in the future”

Each Certificate has a Harp, the official State symbol of Ireland, and is signed on behalf of the Government of Ireland by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamonn Gilmore. There is also a quote from Article 2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Constitution of Ireland), recognizing the special affinity Ireland has with the people of Irish ancestry abroad.

Each Certificate is unique and includes the name of the applicant , and the names of up to two ancestors including their county and year of birth. Applicants can choose from three beautifully designed certificates depicting an emigrant ship, a Celtic knot, or a west of Ireland scene. The Certificates are available in English, Irish, or Spanish and they can be bought framed or unframed.

Applications are easy with friendly customer service staff to answer your queries. See www.heritagecertificate.ie for details.

Here’s a video released by www.heritagecertificate.ie:

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16 Comments

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ciaradexy | Dec 19, 2011, 02:52 PM EST

This is a great money making scam! Well done irish government!

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edwardkeating | Dec 17, 2011, 05:33 PM EST

i think this is one of the greatest things i heard of. the first thing i am doing in the morn is order my irish heritage. thank you and god bless." cead mil failte "

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Realist | Dec 14, 2011, 06:08 AM EST

sirpeter: Is that your response? What's England or the British got to do with "Certificates of Irish Heritage"? As I stated already....an international laughing stock and emotional charity case. My friend, yet another new low. Well done....lol.

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sirpeter | Dec 11, 2011, 07:51 PM EST

UnRealist.Type in to Google~What defines an English person.

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AMWilson | Dec 11, 2011, 02:50 PM EST

Here here, sirpeter. "From Ireland" could mean anything these days. I'd love to have a certificate to carry around to clarify that I'm Gaelic Irish, and not Polish-, Romanian-, Philippino-, or Nigerian-Irish, or a British tax exile.

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Realist | Dec 11, 2011, 04:03 AM EST

From the people who brought you papal indulgences a 'not to be missed' opportunity to help one of Europe's new Third World countries. Are you naive, insecure about your 'cultural identity', and have more money than sense? Well, you too can have this 'not worth the paper it's written on' pointless waste of paper. Dear oh dear....no wonder Ireland is an international laughing stock. First junk bond status and now junk certificates. How are you getting on with that €7 billion that the United Kingdom let you borrow earlier this year? Her Majesty's Chancellor would like to pass on his sincere thanks for the contribution the interest is making....lol.

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sirpeter | Dec 10, 2011, 06:42 PM EST

We just do this because there is nothing worse then to be mistaken as been British.All Europe has turned their back on the Brits.I would buy one and place it just inside the hall.YES!!An essential item of identification in any multicultural society.

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bobtheknob | Dec 10, 2011, 01:58 PM EST

I just keep a blighted potato on my mantle.

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Yardleypa | Dec 10, 2011, 11:41 AM EST

I say a Government official should stand in Shannon airport and give a free cert to each of the 40,000 kids that are leaving.What a shame that this is what the government answer to our problems now trying to nickel & dime after losing 100 billion to euro bankers.

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oldboreen | Dec 10, 2011, 10:21 AM EST

Just watched the 'Official' video promoting the 'Certificate of Irish Heritage' Embarrassing!!!

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oldboreen | Dec 10, 2011, 10:14 AM EST

"The certificate is a Government of Ireland programme providing official recognition to people of Irish ancestry......etc"- see Paragraph four of the above article by Jane Walsh Irish Central Staff Writer. It's nothing of the sort Ms Walsh. It's a shameless attempt by a broke government to make a few euros!!God help us, have they no pride left at all!

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Tooreenagrena | Dec 10, 2011, 07:04 AM EST

This is so blantantly done for the wrong reasons that any sane person with an ounce of pride should just ignore it. If they really wanted people to connect with their ancestral home then they should make it easier to get a passport like they do in the rest of Europe. Remember the Argentinian Irish who are refused passports because they only have Great Great Grandparents born in Ireland.

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walter3ca | Dec 10, 2011, 02:24 AM EST

In Spanish?

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KittyMurphy | Dec 09, 2011, 03:38 PM EST

I know some relatives of mine who have a massive interest in their genealogy and have visited Ireland. I'm sure they'd love to have this hanging on their wall as an official record. A great idea for a gift.

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CitizenWhy | Dec 09, 2011, 11:07 AM EST

I have no objection to Ireland's making money this way. But who need it? I say the Irish should revise old British and Irish noble titles for places/estates in Ireland and sell them at steep prices in occasional discrete auctions. Non-hereditary, so the heir has to pay through the nose too to hold on the this form of bling. Lots of Asians might bite and maybe some Texans too.

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