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Discount vacation in Ireland for Americans with Irish roots

By
APRIL DREW,
Published Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 1:18 PM
Updated Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 2:50 PM

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Discount for travelers with Irish heritage
Discount for travelers with Irish heritage


The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland is considering a proposal to give hefty discounts to visitors to the country with Irish roots.

The plan is simple. If you're Irish then you will qualify for discounts at some of Ireland's top visitor attractions.

Each visitor with Irish ancestry will be eligible for a Certificate of Irish Heritage and can use this to make their way around Ireland on less money than those who don't have any Irish heritage.

The proposal suggests that the Certificate of Irish Heritage be a small credit-card style card that visitors can carry in their wallets with them.

Although it won't entitle them to any legal rights or even Irish citizenship it will allow for deep discounts at some of Ireland's top tourist destinations.

The idea came from the Department of Foreign Affairs but the execution of the plan will be operated by a private company.

At this time Foreign Affairs Minister, Michael Martin, is inviting firms to send in applications on how to operate the project.

Currently anyone born in Ireland or born abroad with an Irish parent or grandparent can qualify for Irish citizenship.

However the Certificate of Irish Heritage will extend beyond Irish grandparents.

Once a person can prove their Irish ancestry - either by producing a legitimate birth certificate or church records of death, even a marriage or baptism cert of even land records or a will- then they will be eligible for the Certificate of Irish Heritage.

The idea stems from the Global Irish Network conference that took place in Dublin last year which took place to see how to connect the 70 million Irish Diaspora across the globe.

The program is to run on a trial basis for a year and if successful will be renewed annually for up to five years. 

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38 Comments

15 - 38 | See all comments

Mairin67 | Jun 26, 2010, 05:36 PM EDT
I'm sorry to see that there seems to be so much cynicism about how the Irish feel about Americans. Maybe because of comments on this blog like "descendant citizenship rights" (what?), "pipe my way through the isle" (bagpipe or smoke?), ""cousins"" and my favorite, "card carrying Irish", we have given them plenty of reasons. The Irish government is giving discounts to promote tourism and business in Ireland. That's all. They could care less if your great great grandmother left during the famine. In one of the articles, it says that they will give you a certificate if you "think you are Irish". Also, It does'nt say anywhere that Aer Lingus or any hotel chains and car rental companies are on board with this. Don't get me wrong...I applaud anyone who goes to Ireland to explore their roots and I support tourism to Ireland because it is an incredible place. I just don't understand why it takes a discount to motivate people to take a trip to Ireland while they could have gone throughout their lives if they were so Irish and truly interested in their roots. And please don't say it's because of the recession. Fares were pretty cheap in recent years. And what about everybody else who have closer ties to Ireland and are frequent visitors....no discounts? I just can't seem to wrap my head around why someone needs a 'card' or certificate to prove something when all you have to do is go there and find your roots and have the memories and experiences of Ireland? Isn't that more real?
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OBPiper | Jun 03, 2010, 03:08 PM EDT
I think it's an ingenious idea which should help get descendant-tourists off the fence and effectively give them some descendant citizenship rights. I certainly qualify and would love to pipe my way through the Isle.
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Newfienl | Jun 01, 2010, 08:28 PM EDT
Only Americans with Irish roots???...I'm Canadian, and both of my grandparents were Irish. Why just American?
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Greenlady | May 28, 2010, 06:13 PM EDT
I think this idea is amazing! Too bad it wasn't in effect last August when I went to visit my cousins. Not only will it promote visitors but will also get people more inclined to look up their family tree!!!
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inishturk | May 26, 2010, 09:34 AM EDT
Excellent idea. I just returned from two weeks in Ireland that included meeting more second and third cousins, all of us descended from the Austen O'Tooles of Inishturk. It's been nearly 120 years since my great-grandmother emigrated and I was the first to return to her birth place. Ireland holds a special place in my heart, and I welcome any program that will help me return.
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Nelliegrace | May 25, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT
I love the idea. My great-grandmother, Nellie Madigan, came from Ireland but, sadly for me, there are no records here.
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cathrynreilly | May 24, 2010, 03:34 PM EDT
Love the idea - with 2 grandparents born in Ireland, and proof of it, maybe my next trip to visit the "cousins" will be less costly!
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GeorgeDillon | May 24, 2010, 12:52 PM EDT
This is more hypocrisy from the Irish government. The Irish in Ireland have never cared about their cousins abroad, except to sneer at them and see them as a source of easy income. Even Irish citizens who happen to be out of the country on polling day are denied a vote in Irish elections.
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Chieftain | May 24, 2010, 08:48 AM EDT
WOW...My grandparent came over in 1926 and in 1930. I am digging this!! (Still trying to get my Ireland Passport though)
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Schenck2 | May 24, 2010, 12:19 AM EDT
My ancestors came in 1714. I only have a second-hand report from the geneologist that my uncle hired. What do I do? My husband wants to take me to Ireland next summer to look into my roots.
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momaloney | May 23, 2010, 11:14 PM EDT
Great Idea!! Hope to take advantage of it later this year. My grandmother was born in Cavan, can't find the birth certiticate, but I believe her marriage license from NYC has that she was born there...hopefully that will work!! I will be watching as to where to obtain one of these cards. \\ Thanks, Maureen Maloney
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Carolynirish | May 23, 2010, 10:21 PM EDT
Since my Dad and grandfather are dead how can I find out get information to prove my great grandparents came from Ireland.
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Irishlassred | May 23, 2010, 05:21 PM EDT
While my 30th wedding anniversary is this Sept it will be next March when I finally get a honeymoon to Ireland! Please keep us posted for any developments on this. My entire family is Irish and this will make the journey so much nicer.
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