Conference tallis::celt

637.0. "IRISH CITIZENSHIP" by GIAMEM::FOLEY (Anne of DECUS) Fri Aug 25 1989 17:14

    Thought some of you might be interested in this article from Boston
    University's "Bostonia' magazine regarding Irish Citizenship.
    
    I don't participate regularly in this conference, so I hope this
    is not redundant.
    
    
                             
    "AMERICAN IRISH GO "HOME"
    by McCarthy Coyle 
    
    Millions of Americans are also citizens of Ireland, although most
    of them are unaware of their dual rights.  But in the past several
    years thousands of Americans have formally claimed their Irish
    Citizenship.
    
    
    Since 1985, 4100 Americans have done so, according to the Irish
    Embassy in Washington.  Of that number, nearly one-third of the
    requests have come from the Boston area.  They represent only a
    fraction of those who are eligible, however, since all that's required
    is proof of an Irish-born parent or grandparent.  
    
    Matt Murphy, a 23-year-old medical information researcher in Cambridge
    has just begun his records search.  "I first went to Ireland when
    I was 15 and in a Massachusetts soccer league.  Last year when I
    was traveling all over Europe, I felt like an alien until I got
    back to Ireland.  There it's exactly like being back in the family,"
    he says.  He expects Irish citizenship will soon allow him to work
    anywhere in Europe.  Elizabeth Shannon, whose late husband, William
    Shannon, was U.S.Ambassador to Ireland during the Carter
    administration, says this reason is echoed by many applicants. 
    Now director of Boston University's Office for Foreign Visitors
    Bureau, she expects "to see a lot of Irish-American young  people
    looking for opportunities in Europe in 1992," when citizens of the
    EC (European Community), including Ireland, will be able to pursue
    career and business opportunities in Europe.
    
    Another advantage of obtaining dual citizenship is that a
    non-U.S.passport means fewer hassles while traveling.  (Never mind
    Robert McFarlane, the former National Security Adviser, who attempted
    to disguise his journey to Iran by using an Irish passport.  The
    Irish government indicated its displeasure and said no passport
    had ever been granted to McFarlane.)  Dual citizenship also allows
    the new Irish to reap the government's social benefits.  But perhaps
    the most lasting reason to pursue Irish citizenship is neither of
    these.  As Shannon says, "Many reclaim their heritage for sentimental
    reasons."
    
    Chicago-born Cait Casey, who now works for a San Diego public utility
   , is well-versed in Celtic history, particularly the sagas of women
    as priestesses and leaders in battle.  For  these reasons she is
    pursuing citizenship.  "Irish citizenship doesn't make that history
    any more real but I look forward to wandering freely amongst the
    ruins."
    
    Bob McCarthy, an Idaho attorney recently completed his citizenship
    papers for "tribal reasons".  "I've been representing Nez Perce
    Indians," he explains, and appreciating their values and customs
    "made me want to rejoin my own tribe."                   
                                                             
    Those who meet the heritage terms of Irish law are already citizens;
    the paperwork merely makes the connection official.  Assembling
    the requisite paper trail of birth and marriage certificates formally
    proving a link to a grandparent can be timeconsuming, but diligence
    pays off.  Your first step may be writing to the General Register
    Office in Dublin for birth, death and marriage certificates with
    a $9 search fee  Then, once the documentation is in hand, a completed
    application and payment of $153 sent to consular offices in Boston,
    New York, Chicago or San Francisco (or the Irish Embassy in Washington)
    will begin the eight-to-10 week process.  Thereafter, an Irish passport
    costs $53.
      
    Concern over losing one's American citizenship is allayed by U.S.State
    Department legal opinions that dual nationality is acceptable. 
    After all, neither you nor the U.S. has control over the Irish law
    that has already made you a citizen.  For some Americans, reclaiming
    that citizenship is the obvious adjunct to examining one's "roots".
    "After all," Cait Casey says, "it's my birthright."
                  
    
    

    RE: 0
    Forgot to mention... reprinted without permission...