Irish Heritage Certificate scheme a dud as Irish Americans pass on it

This is kinda funny....Their giving you pedigree papers now...its funny because these irish descendants are famous for being very fanatic and obsessed with their origin....to complement it the government is papers of authenticity like a pure bread cocker spaniel...but I do see that its tied into their citizenship rules and that maybe ok...but it is still a ittle funny:)

Who thought up that scam. I bet Clinton and Obama didn't fork over $54.00. The Irish like so many other misguided people slobbered all over Obama, begging him to acknowledge that they somehow found a distant relative that behaved badly. As a result of this so called encounter he had a pin head of Irish blood in him . Obama couldn't care less, he was totally / is disinterested until a year ago when he saw an opportunity for votes. So ridiculous .

I am a proud American of Irish ancestory that doesn't need a certificate to authenticate whom I am. My face and complexion tells all. Did Clinton or Obama pay for their certificates? There are many in Irish lore I am proud of. Those two aren't among them.

First of all, they are charging $54 for these certificates, which is absolutely outrageous. Second of all, I don't need a certificate to tell me I'm Irish...my bloodline is all I need to confirm that fact. What I did buy, however, was a square foot of land for all three of my sons and one for myself, several years ago. I gave them as Christmas gifts, with the "Deed" matted and framed. I also bought them each a bag of Irish soil to go with it. I enjoy giving off-the-wall gifts that will make them smile and laugh for years to come. Besides, we can now all claim to be Irish land-owners...it was well worth the price...and cost $5 less than this stupid certificate.

There is another side to this story. Most of the information on the certificate was passed through Irish newspapers and websites. Many people in the south and southwest do not have access to the newspapers so they are at a disadvantage. I would suggest that the Irish Consular offices send a press reslease to the major newspapers in their area. Many 19th Century death certificates just say Ireland on them. Like JamieLM I know my background.

Offensive and idiotic idea that some money-grubbing, half-assed Irish government has any kind of power to bestow "Irish heritage" on anybody. Americans of Irish ancestry don't need to buy a "certificate" in order to claim Irish descent and the very notion is an insult to the memory of our immigrant ancestors who left Ireland with little but the clothes on their backs.

Hey, lower the cost significantly and you'll get a lot more takers. Way too expensive now!

the phrase "buyer beware" comes quickly to mind, and seems profounder by the year, sez me...

As an American whose paternal and maternal Irish ancestral lines are well documented, thanks to years of research by various family members, I'm not paying for a Certificate from the Irish govt. telling me what I already know. I also have some Welsh, Dutch, and English ancestors and I wouldn't buy a Certificate from any of those countries, either. Although I'm very proud of my considerable (more than Obama has) Irish ancestry, I think of myself as an American. I'm not passing judgment on those who do want to get a Certificate - that's their decision. WK has a good idea of how to be awarded a Certificate, rather than buying it.

I saw that and passed

WoundedKnee - Well said indeed!