Brexit sees 900,000 Irish passport applications in 2019

One of the outcomes of the utter insanity that is the current Brexit process is the significant rise in the number of passport applications for EU countries by UK residents. In 2019, some 900,000 people in Northern Ireland and Britain applied for an Irish passport for the first time, as outlined in the Belfast Telegraph today at https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-sees-record-900000-applying-for-irish-passport-38814356.html.

Indeed, yours truly spent many years prior to the Brexit vote dithering about whether to apply for an Irish passport myself, having spent an eternity struggling to define my identity as someone born in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. But when the MP Jo Cox was assassinated on June 16th 2016 by a right wing lunatic just prior to the Brexit vote (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Jo_Cox), I concluded that Brexit was indeed sadly going to happen, and duly applied a week before the day of the vote for Irish passports for myself and my two sons, so that we could join my wife in holding one (she being from the Republic). Brexit was not the only factor in making such a decision, but it was the final push needed, and I now predominantly travel on my Irish passport, though retain a UK passport and dual nationality as an interim measure here in Scotland.

My experience in how I obtained an Irish passport is outlined in a series of blog posts starting at http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-1.html. The RootsIreland website also has a help page on how to claim an Irish passport at http://www.rootsireland.ie/help/help-civil-records/how-to-apply-for-an-irish-passport/.

If born in Ireland prior to January 2005, or if the child of a parent born in Ireland, the process is relatively straightforward, with applicants already considered to be Irish citizens (whether from the north or the south). But be advised that if applying through a grandparent, you will need to register first in the Republic of Ireland's Register of Foreign Births - see https://www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/. This is an expensive process (€278 if aged over 18), but something I also discovered on behalf of a friend just a couple of weeks ago is that the time that it takes to do so is now between nine months and a year. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade link above provides further details - just be forewarned!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

How to apply for an Irish passport

As the absolute clusterbùrach that is Brexit continues to paralyse British politics, I've had a few email requests in the last week about how to claim an Irish passport.

I have previously outlined on this blog how I obtained passports for myself and my two sons from here in Scotland three years ago in a series of four posts starting at http://britishgenes.blogspot.com/2016/06/claiming-irish-passport-1.html.

You will also find useful advice on the RootsIreland website at http://www.rootsireland.ie/help/help-civil-records/how-to-apply-for-an-irish-passport/.

At present the Irish Government is processing about 3000 applications a day, so there may be a delay with both your order and in obtaining any necessary certificates from the GRO offices in Belfast or Roscommon.

I hope this helps, and that if you choose to go for one that your application is successful.

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Green cards may be needed for post-Brexit UK-Ireland car travel

I don't propose to get into a running commentary on this blog about the current Brexit shenanigans in London just now - but I will point out relevant potential issues that may affect genealogists as a consequence of what is tragically beginning to look like a no-deal exit by the UK from the EU on March 29th.

The first of these may be of interest to anyone intending to travel from Britain or Northern Ireland to Dublin for Back to Our Past (http://backtoourpast.ie) later this year from October 19th-21st, or for anyone from the Republic wishing to travel to Britain for any of the large family history events taking place in England after March 29th.

If the UK leaves without agreeing a deal, the UK's Association of British Insurers (www.abi.org.uk) has advised that you will need to apply for a green card from your insurance company to travel with your car from the UK into the EU, and from the EU into the UK. Sadly, this also applies to travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, even though the Common Travel Area is to be maintained. You will most likely continue to be insured by your company (though do check), but you will need the green card to demonstrate this. The ABI's advice is available online at https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2019/01/dont-forget-your-green-card---british-insurers-issue-advice-to-customers-on-no-deal-brexit/ and it advises that you will need to apply a month before you travel.

One saving grace, for now at least, for those travelling from the UK into the Republic of Ireland is that you will not need to apply for an international driving permit (IDP) to visit - I am as yet unclear if this is also true for travelling from Ireland to the UK. An IDP will be a necessity, however, if travelling from Britain to the European continent. In the UK, these will be made available at Post Offices from the start of February.

Further information from the UK's government is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prepare-to-drive-in-the-eu-after-brexit/requirements-for-all-uk-citizens-driving-abroad-from-29-march-2019.

The Irish Times has the story across the water at https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-motorists-will-need-green-cards-to-drive-in-uk-under-brexit-1.3760534. This notes that in Ireland "Insurers and insurance brokers in the Republic will begin issuing green cards to policyholders from March ahead of March 29th, the scheduled date for the UK to leave the EU."

Further coverage is available on the BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46891186.

Chris

My next Scottish Research Online course starts March 11th 2019 - see www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Rally for Remain in Belfast

Apologies folks, I don't often delve into politics on this blog, but I have seriously had enough of Brexit.

As someone who originally comes from Northern Ireland, I do not want to see the country's progress sacrificed to make way for something it did not vote for, any more than I want to see Scotland fall for the exact same reason (with an even larger Remain vote). I equally do not want to see the future of the Republic of Ireland sacrificed for something it did not even have a vote in, and I am every bit as concerned about what Brexit will do to England and Wales.

Next Saturday there will be a Rally for Remain at Belfast City Hall at 3pm. I am intending to travel over (weather permitting) on the ferry from Cairnryan - most likely the 7.30am - to make a morning of it in Belfast, and to then attend the rally in the afternoon, before coming home on the evening boat. If anyone else from Scotland or England is thinking of travelling over, I'd be more than happy to hold an informal genealogy Q&A on board going over and/or coming back, to talk over Irish or Scottish research queries, or even Brexit related issues, such as how to apply for an Irish passport.

If you're interested, keep an eye out for me and don't be afraid to come over and have a chat!

For those who perhaps don't know about the dangers that Brexit poses to Ireland, north and south, can I refer you to the following episodes of 3 Blokes in a Pub on YouTube, where much of its impact is discussed:

Northern Ireland (https://youtu.be/71007zb2OnI)

Republic of Ireland (https://youtu.be/CKIsFmGH8v8)

If you don't agree, no problems, normal service on this blog will soon be resumed!

And if like me you are absolutely terrified about what the current Brexit shambles will do to our future prosperity, our peace process and much more, please do get the word out.

Hopefully see you there!

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.