So, I’m pretty pleased. After almost three years of paperwork, I’ve finally obtained my Irish passport! I am officially a citizen of Ireland – indeed, it says so right in my new document. Nationality: Irish. Place of birth: Canada (by some unfortunate accident.)
Description: Woman of the World.
Now, this doesn’t mean I’m giving up on being a Canadian. Not at all – I’ve always been very proud to wear the Maple Leaf. But at the same time, I’ve always wanted to be a European. Whatever that means!
My quest for an Irish passport/European Union passport began soon after my dear old dad passed on in 2005. I really, really miss him. Only after his death did I discover that because Dad was born in Ireland, I, as the child of an Irish citizen, was also an Irish citizen.
That got me thinking: why not get an Irish passport, both as a way of remembering my Dad, but also as a step towards perhaps someday living and working in Europe. Isn’t that a nice balance of sentimentality AND practicality? Very Irish AND very Canadian qualities, I would say.
So for now, I’m just enjoying possession of this document (written in both Gaelic, or Gaeilge, and English) to go along with my Canadian passport (written in both French and English.)
Perhaps it will help me open some employment doors in Europe, or at least the doors of some yet-to-be discovered relatives in County Donegal.
Comments (24)
go bhfuil an uamhnach
Posted by Kathryn | April 19, 2010 6:12 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 18:12
Oh! How great!! I envy you.
Posted by Vicky | April 19, 2010 7:33 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 19:33
I think that's wonderful! It gives you a certain kind of advantage. I wish my children could have an Italian passport.
Posted by Barb Cabot | April 19, 2010 9:00 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 21:00
Hi Kathryn, go raibh maith agat!
Thanks, Vicky.It is kind of cool.
Barb, an Italian passport would also be pretty wonderful.
Posted by sandrac | April 19, 2010 9:23 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 21:23
Sandra, congratulations. That is so wonderful and I am so envious.
Posted by Jane | April 19, 2010 9:29 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 21:29
Oh how fantastic! My UK siblings get to have dual citizenship because our Dad was born in Canada and their mom born in England. I'd love to have a British passport, but no such luck. I bet this will open some doors. I'm thrilled for you!
Posted by Anne | April 19, 2010 9:37 PM
Posted on April 19, 2010 21:37
Wow! Good for you!
Posted by leslie | April 20, 2010 5:04 AM
Posted on April 20, 2010 05:04
Thanks very much, Jane and Leslie!
Anne, it is interesting to have dual citizenship. I'm not sure, practically, what it will mean. But now, I'm feeling impatient to visit Ireland!
Posted by sandrac | April 20, 2010 9:33 AM
Posted on April 20, 2010 09:33
Congratulations, that is very cool.
Posted by Annie | April 20, 2010 10:46 AM
Posted on April 20, 2010 10:46
How cool! I want to be European too:)
Posted by Candi | April 20, 2010 11:45 AM
Posted on April 20, 2010 11:45
One VERY practical aspect of your new citizenship will be your ability to open a EURO checking account! But now you will have the difficult decision of whether it will be in Italy or Ireland. Hmmmm... will you only be travelling to countries that begin with the letter "I"? If so, I heard Iceland just made an ash of itself; so, you want to wait until that blows over (so to speak).
Posted by Brad'll Do It | April 20, 2010 1:31 PM
Posted on April 20, 2010 13:31
Goodness, this shows the depths to which some will go to no longer be represented by Stephan Harper!
Congratulations!
Posted by Jerry | April 20, 2010 8:05 PM
Posted on April 20, 2010 20:05
Thanks Annie and Candi. It DOES feel pretty cool!
Brad, the euro account intrigues....I should check that out! Especially now, when the exchange rate is somewhat favourable. And shame on you, for picking on poor luckless Iceland, as it lurches from crisis to crisis. :)
Jerry, that's the best spin I've heard in a long time!! I'm going to use that one.
Posted by sandrac | April 20, 2010 9:18 PM
Posted on April 20, 2010 21:18
Congratulations! This is very exciting news! I think this may get you in a few museums at a discount.
Posted by girasoli | April 21, 2010 12:30 AM
Posted on April 21, 2010 00:30
Thanks for the tip, Girasoli -- I hadn't thought of that! I must start paying attention to notices of any EU discounts!
Posted by sandrac | April 21, 2010 9:08 AM
Posted on April 21, 2010 09:08
Good work!
My parents are British, so when I was a student in Scotland, I had a Certificate of Patriality in my Canadian passport.
The best part is not having to wait in line at Immigration in the UK airports, with 250 other tired and grumpy Canadians from your incoming flight!
You just go through the UK line-up.
Also, you don't have to pay entry visas for some countries, like Turkey!
(Oh, that doesn't begin with "I".)
Posted by Shelagh (SJ) | April 21, 2010 1:31 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 13:31
Congratulations! Aside from the emotional connections (well, and hereditary) it will be interesting to see what benefits this will give you?
Posted by menehune | April 21, 2010 3:49 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 15:49
So, here's a thought... you leave Canada, and show your Canadian passport. You arrive in a EU country, and go through the EU line, and do the reverse on your return. No one would ever know if you landed or not. Can you do that? That would be cool.
Posted by Brad'll Do It | April 21, 2010 4:52 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 16:52
Hi Shelagh, thanks! It would be nice to zip through Customs lines. For once. And I forgot about visas in places like Turkey -- I remember being quite taken aback when I arrived in Istanbul with no money to pay for an entry visa, and having to scramble around to find an ATM (I hadn't done my research.)
I wonder, menehune -- I've started looking for discounted museum entries, and nothing as yet. Maybe I should post on Slow Travel and see if anyone has suggestions.
Intriguing idea, Brad; very Jason Bourne-esque. Except with my luck, I'd wind up disavowed by both countries! On the other hand, I'd be marooned in Italy; where better to live in exile......
Posted by sandrac | April 21, 2010 9:28 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 21:28
That is very exciting! Congratulations.
Posted by Palma | April 22, 2010 10:52 PM
Posted on April 22, 2010 22:52
Congratulations. That is so cool that you are able to get the Irish passport. Unfortunately, my Irish grandfather was born in Idaho so I don't qualify.
Posted by Marta | April 24, 2010 1:38 PM
Posted on April 24, 2010 13:38
Hi Sandra, congratulations on receiving your Irish passport. How very cool for you to be European with your Irish passport. And what a wonderful way to remember your father.
I hope that this will open many doors and new possibilities for you in the future. How very exciting for you. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great week.
Posted by Kathy (trekcapri) | April 26, 2010 12:51 PM
Posted on April 26, 2010 12:51
Thanks Palma!
Marta, that's a shame -- mind you, I know so little (at this point)about my family history in Ireland that my Dad might just as well have been born in the U.S.!
Hi Kathy, thanks very much! It is cool, and I hope to learn much more about family's history in Ireland!
Posted by sandrac | April 26, 2010 9:28 PM
Posted on April 26, 2010 21:28
How exciting, Sandra! Congrats!
Posted by nancyhol | June 2, 2010 1:50 PM
Posted on June 2, 2010 13:50