Ireland welcomes 3200 New Irish Citizens

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has today congratulated some 3,200 new Irish citizens at a citizenship ceremony at the Convention Centre in Dublin.

There are 3,200 people due to attend the ceremonies on 27 November. The following table provides a breakdown of the top 10 nationalities gaining citizenship on the day:

Today’s ceremonies bring the total number of citizens to have received their Certificates of Naturalisation since citizenship cermonies were first introduced in 2011 to 82,600. If minors are included, who are not required to attend a ceremony, the total granted Irish citizenship is over 110,000:

• In total, nationals of 181 different countries became Irish citizens since 2011
• In 2016 four ceremony days were held:
  • One in Waterford for approximately 100 people
  • The other three in the Convention Centre Dublin, where over 7,800 people received their certificates of naturalisation in 8 ceremonies
• Prior to today, two other ceremony days have been held in 2017 so far:
  • One in Limerick for 350 people
  • The other in the Convention Centre Dublin, where 3,300 applicants attended
• The top nationalities of persons naturalised since 2011 were:
  • Poland
  • India
  • Nigeria
  • Romania
  • Philippines
  • Pakistan
  • China (inc Hong Kong)
  • Ukraine
  • South Africa
  • Bangladesh
• Total applications from British nationals in 2014 was 46. In 2015, the total was 72:
  • In 2016, 573 applications from British nationals were received and to the end of September 2017, a further 624 applications from British Nationals
  • This increase followed the decision of the UK in the Brexit Referendum in June 2016 to leave the EU
  • The day after the referendum result was the busiest 24 hours ever for the INIS website
  • It is anticipated that applications from UK citizens will increase as Brexit proceeds
  • Applications are based on Irish association and descent. 292 British Nationals have so far received Irish Citizenship in 2017, with over 230 British Nationals due to attend the Ceremony