‘Certificate of Irishness’ available to applicants within months

On the contrary, OLDBOREEN: These certificates, especially those issued and dated to first comers, will be yours to have today and be family heirlooms for your future generations to have. ¬ My great grand-aunt emigrated from Ireland, to America first and later to Canada, over a hundred years ago. When she died, she bequeathed to me a simple but very beautiful flower vase that she bought somewhere, sometime when she was a young beauty of a woman (I have old photos of her of then and of us together Dublin when I was a small fella and she an oul’ woman). That vase sits in my sitting room tonight, as precious to me tonight as it was to her the day she bought it over a century ago. So will a “Certificate of Irishness” be precious for you and your future relatives, whether they are children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, or great grand nieces or nephews or cousins and so on, or for anybody else having Irish Heritage to pass on to their families, some day. These Irish Certificates of Irishness will be the kinds of treasures that only come in one’s own lifetime, for others of yours to dust off and treasure in future times, like I do with my g-g-aunt’s vase. Get the Certificate, put it on your mantelpiece or sideboard, let it be your treasure today, to be a bequeathed treasure another day.

Re;'Certificate of Irishness'. Sadly this is simply a clever money making commercial scam. Shame of the Irish Government for having any part in it! Either you have an Irish Passport or you don't. These certificates will be worthless. Don't waste your money!

Most of us with Irish heritage like to celebrate being Irish. Thank Heaven we do. With all the Irish festivals here in the US we have kept the popularity of Irish music and other crafts strong. If we didn't buy all the clothes, glassware, pottery etc., how much of the world would know about the wonderful artists of Ireland? We who frequent the festivals and the Irish Import shops give incentive for more beautiful creative genius. I'll admit it, I was just at a shop yesterday. I didn't buy any buttons, though.

Will FEXCO be selling a Certificate of Irishness to Congressman Anthony Weiner now that IC has "revealed" his Irish side? I'm glad IC didn't reveal anything else of the Congressman's...enough is enough.

Those of you protesting the value or sense of this certificate most likely live in Ireland and, therefore, see it as unnecessary. Those of us stuck by circumstances in the States understand the intrinsic value of something tangible to put on the wall regarding our ancestry. Just as I've several photos of my trips to Ireland, I'll mount and proudly display this "memory" of my family's proud past. In a land of mongrels and mutts, a pedigree is nice to have.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." My family on both sides came over during the famine so I'll bet I'm a prime target for one of these certificates of my Irishness. But for what purpose would I use it other than to sit in a drawer or...? I would be embarrassed to put something so tacky on my wall. Do I need a certificate that I am female or American? Seems like a BIG scam aimed directly for the wallets of who sport "Kiss me, I'm Irish" buttons and other unfortunate apparel on St. Patrick's Day.

Thanks for clearing the Irish Certificate issue up, jacersagain. I'll be applying.

I know what Mr Obama is mailing away for.....(he's ALREADY got one for "Englishness" on his mother's side, as he famously told the Queen the minute he landed from Moneygall, and for "African-ness" from his Kenyan Daddy, and for "Hawaiian-ness", and for "Arab-ness", and will have for for "Hebrew-ness" just as soon as he has to go to visit any Jewish voters.

for a $100 a head a pop it would be worth it. With a web site to boot, with photo (only if one wished it) and story of oneself/family. Expressing why they feel proud of being connected - likes - thingies Irish music, dance, art etc. Should include a category for others who feel an Irishness for whatever reason. Joyce Kilmer of "Trees" was one who felt Irish for example.

I cannot wait and I would be honored to get a certificat. I am doing my ancestry, have been to the family farm where my grandmother was born and still have family living on the farm. The fall cannot come soon enough for me!

I should add that Irish Passport holders, whether in Ireland or outside of it, can also obtain these Certificates!

I think the idea is to allow people with Irish Heritage who otherwise would not qualify for an Irish Passport to have something to show for their Irish roots. It is NOT an Irish passport document and will be more something like a family heirloom in time for future generations of those who qualify for and purchase the certificates – that’s certainly something worth getting for future generations and I would think the first holders of such certificates will be amongst the proudest and most treasured holders of these future family heirlooms. You can Google ‘feXco’ for more info on the financial services company solely approved by the Irish Govt to issue the Certificates.

FYI of Searlit and all – FEXCO is the official Irish Govt-approved agency which will sell these Certificates to those who qualify for it. Here is what was announced in today’s Irish Tiimes newspaper: >>> "Kerry-based financial services company Fexco has won the concession to award certificates of Irish heritage to up to 70 million people worldwide. The awarding of the certificates is due begin in the autumn and about 20 jobs are to be created. ¬ The idea emerged out of the economic forum in Farmleigh House two years ago. (This forum was sponsored by the Irish Govt). ¬ Applicants will be asked to provide details of their Irish heritage and, in return for a fee, will see a certificate awarded. The scheme is set to be self-financing. Aside info: There is a site called diapora.ie which is also selling "Irishness Certificates". This site is NOT licenced or approved by the Irish Govt and works as a scam. Avoid at all costs!

Certificates? We don't need no stinking certificates!! I bleed green. All I have to do is look in the mirror and at my own instincts and behavior to know I'm Irish = Irish on the inside!!!

Is this item a "photo-shopped" Certificate of Legal Nationality? LOL