At the end of September the website for the Irish Government’s Certificate of Irish Heritage will go live giving millions of people with Irish roots the chance to be officially recognized by the Irish State.
Although the Certificate will be issued by the Irish Government it is not a certificate of citizenship nor does it give the holder rights or entitlements of a citizen of Ireland.
The Certificate aims to recognize those of Irish heritage in an official way and to give a practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by millions. It is the Government’s intention, by releasing the Certificates, to maintain their strong ties with communities around the world, now and in the future.
From October the Irish Government will be accepting applications after their official launch this Monday. The first Certificate of Irish Heritage was presented to a 9/11 hero, Irish American firefighter Joseph Hunter, posthumously.
For now here’s a guide to the eligibility criteria and how to apply for the Certificates:
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applications are open to persons who were not born on the island of Ireland and who can provide appropriate supporting documentation connecting them to an individual Irish ancestor.
- Irish citizens or persons entitled to Irish citizenship through other means will be eligible to apply provided they have not been born on the island of Ireland.
- Persons born on the island of Ireland are not eligible to apply.
- Applications for persons under the age of 18 at the date of application must be made by their parent or guardian on their behalf.
What you need to apply?
- A valid email address
- A scanned image of your ID eg: a driving license, passport or national identity document
- The name(s) of one or two ancestors that will appear on the Certificate (a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent etc)
- The year and place of birth of your ancestor(s) are optional, but will appear if you have them.
- A scanned or downloaded image of your ancestor supporting document. Eg: a birth certificate of Irish ancestor, baptismal/marriage/death certificate of ancestor showing place of birth, land records, wills, census records, ships manifests or immigration records.
- The names of the people in the line of descent between you and your ancestor.
- A credit card (MasterCard or Visa)
How to apply:
All applicants must apply online at www.heritagecertificate.ie.
Processing and approval of applications and the issuing of Certificates will be managed, on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by FeXco. All enquiries about the Certificate should be addressed directly to FeXco whose contact details will be available on the website.
How much will it cost?
Each Certificate will be the local equivalent of €40 (approx US$55) excluding shipping. A framed version will also be available for purchase (although this will incur a higher cost). Full details of the costs of including shipping and framing are available on the website.
Certificate as a gift:
A Gift Card facility will be introduced. You will be able to purchase a Gift Card for family or friends. Each applicant, however, must apply individually and provide the required information and documentation in order to receive the Government issued Certificate.
The website (www.heritagecertificate.ie) will go live at the end of September.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Irishjule | Oct 01, 2011, 10:36 PM EDT
I'm an artist...I'll make my own certificate! We Irish Americans won't be out-smarted. :-)
bootsjoyce4 | Sep 23, 2011, 03:37 PM EDT
I don't have to prove my Irishness, Especially when it costs money. I'm from Pa.'s Molly Maguire hard coal country where all the ethnics speak with an Irish brogue from the famine Irish.Anthracite Coal Region of Pa.
sirpeter | Sep 23, 2011, 01:09 PM EDT
Doner kabab's!! Naww!! Most Americans are gone right off Muslim food.We do have alot of Irish cheese to off load though.
citizen69 | Sep 23, 2011, 07:16 AM EDT
Does this certificate entitle one to a free doner kabab at Abrakebabra!?
MCIRISH | Sep 22, 2011, 12:22 PM EDT
EXCITED TO BE ABE TO SHOW MY HERITAGE WITH A PRINTED CERTIFICATE. HOPE I HAVE ENOUGH INFO AS MY FATHER BORN IN IRELAND IN 1896, BUT MOST OF HIS RECORDS HAVE BEEN DISTROYED. I DO HAVE CENSUS, ETC AND THE BUNNOE BOOK IS FILLED WITH MY ANCESTERS.
odonnell521 | Sep 22, 2011, 06:51 AM EDT
Relax people with the negative comments, no one seems to have much of a sense of humor today. Given he was running away from a famine, my great-great grandfather wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry if I started pinning too much about the "old country." Proud of our Irish heritage yes, visit Ireland every chance I get sure, but paying 40 euros for a certificate to prove my "Irishness"? People will just have to look to my sense of humor and ability to talk endlessly about nothing instead. Throw in red-headed wife and daughter and what more proof of my Irish roots do you need?
LainieMcEl | Sep 22, 2011, 05:54 AM EDT
Well, I guess this is one way to solve their financial problems. I read somewhere that there are more Americans with Irish blood here, than there are Irish in Ireland. If we all bought into this, it could bring back the Celtic Tiger!!!!.
BARNEYKX | Sep 22, 2011, 04:09 AM EDT
Did you know that now you cannot have your picture taken kissing the blarney stone by your wife friend or whatever no you have to give 10 euro for having this done at the time then you collect you photo on the way out of blarney castle what a rip off
bogsidebunny | Sep 22, 2011, 12:57 AM EDT
Don't forget to send the moola. That's what this worthless paper is all about.
phinsman | Sep 21, 2011, 06:59 PM EDT
My ancestors from Ireland came over during the first half of the 1800s... I know their names but don't have any documentation that proves they came from Ireland. I am hoping I will be able to find some, but won't be surprised if I can't.
jamieLM | Sep 21, 2011, 04:48 PM EDT
@antoman - if I bring my own crayons, markers, and a Cheerios box, may I have a discount on the price??? LOL For those who want a certificate and are willing to pay for it, go for it. If not, take a pass.
thumpdrum | Sep 21, 2011, 03:44 PM EDT
I'd rather have Irish citizenship, thank you very much.
sirpeter | Sep 21, 2011, 11:59 AM EDT
@antoman.You're talents are wasted biy.That's a great idea.Don't tell anyone here,but I have a big bag of shiny harp stickers left over from the old 17th of March drinkfest.The Irish Americanos they'll wet themselves with excitement for that shiny harp.Push!!! the dog outta the way there biy.We,ll plan this some more over a bottle of red.
greensod | Sep 21, 2011, 11:58 AM EDT
This is nothing but a money making scheme.How about giving the vote back to the Irish who was born there.
Rebelforce | Sep 21, 2011, 11:51 AM EDT
No Irish Without a Credit Card Need Apply.
Searlit | Sep 21, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
Antoman, you couldn't be more timely with your jokes sometimes. Thanks.
Tooreenagrena | Sep 21, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT
What a load of rubbish. If you want to show your appreciation of those of irish descent then extend the right to a passport beyond the grandparent. That would bring Ireland in line with many other european countries and allow people with a genuine connection to emigrate there. Just one example is the Irish - Argentinians who are refused a passport. So much good will and talent being spurned.
ballyhip | Sep 21, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT
It's not called "Rip off Ireland" for nothing. Reminds me of those geneology experts who sat in Dublin airport and produced documents proving the sucker was descended from a high king of Ireland. They even threw in a coat of arms. My father always said our coat of arms was crossed tosg on the body of a jackass.
bronxjames | Sep 21, 2011, 10:22 AM EDT
Why not make it a little more complicated? I don't need any paper telling me I'm Irish Descent..County Cork was my Mothers home case closed!
Celtichealy | Sep 21, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT
Heck if I went through all that just to say I have a certificate of heritage, I'd just move there and gain citizenship properly. Anything to help the economy!
donal1951 | Sep 21, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT
Despite being an Irish citizen by birth, I was not born in Ireland but obtained citizenship through my father, who emigrated to the USA in 1928. If I have money to burn I might still get one of these. It's a nice piece of wallpaper and I can't exactly frame my Irish passport.
antoman | Sep 21, 2011, 09:58 AM EDT
Any of ye that don't qualify don't despair. Sirpeter and I are banging them out on Patricks Bridge. $100 a pop. Bring your own piece of Kellogs cornflakes box. Crayons and markers we have covered. Original and on the spot certificates. Ask for Cha and Miah.
mcbreen | Sep 21, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT
How did Pearse phrase it? " Mo clann fein do doil a mhaither"
BARNEYKX | Sep 21, 2011, 07:45 AM EDT
Is this a joke or just another money making scam