How I Became and Irish Citizen

by Tim Healy

 

For a number of years I knew that I could become a citizen of Ireland “by descent”. Descent meant that if I could prove, in my case, that one of my grandparents was born in Ireland, Ireland would take me into her arms and grant me all the rights and privileges of a home-grown Irishman. It was a fascinating idea, an idea that gnawed on me from time to time, but I didn’t have time to really go after it. I had heard in lore that once an Irishman, always an Irishman, and that the homeland will constantly beckon you home. Is this why I often thought about Ireland? Is this why I felt that constant, distant call?.

One day, on the Internet, I saw a booklet entitled Dual Irish Citizenship Guide. That was it! I wanted that book. I had to have that book.

The book arrived, and I tore into it. I found out that the U.S. Department of State had confirmed that claiming dual Irish citizenship would not have any effect on my U.S. citizenship. The mission was GO!

I eagerly read on. I discovered that the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act had provisions for children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of native-born Irishmen to become Irish citizens. Also, a child of a naturalized Irish citizen and the spouse of an Irish citizen were covered under the act. All I had to do was prove that either grandma or grandpa was born in Ireland. But how?

Again, the Internet came to the rescue. A search led me to Genfindit. They specialize in vital records from England, Scotland, Ireland and Australasia. Genfindit is based in Australia. Isn’t the Internet a wonderful place? I contacted them.

Fortunately, I had a somewhat accurate family history write-up, which I emailed to Genfindit. It looked like this was going to be a glorious walk in the park. The first indication that it was raining was that Genfindit informed me that there were three towns in Ireland with the same name as Grandpa’s birthplace, Patrick’s Well. Which Patrick’s Well had the records? And then there was another possible glitch. Ireland didn’t start keeping official birth record until 1865, and Grandpa was born in 1863. However, I found out that in lieu of a birth certificate, a church baptismal certificate would be acceptable. I was now encouraged to press on.

My sister, Pat, told me that Uncle Joe had gone to Ireland many years before to search the records. He didn’t have any luck, however Pat remembered he had gone to Patrick’s Well just outside of Limerick. I emailed this info to Genfindit and they put their operatives to work Genfindit’s people should work for the CIA. In about two weeks I received a notarized copy of my Grandfathers birth/baptismal certificate from the parish of Mungret/Crecora in the Diocese of Limerick. My Great-Grandfather’s name was Michael Healy and my Great-Granmother’s maiden name was Maria Griffin. Grandpa was born on the 27th day of March, 1863. This was truly a “Wow” moment.

There was lot more to do. I had to document every step in the train of events that would support my citizenship application. Now, I had to get Grandpa’s and Grandma’s marriage certificate. The Irish Consulate required the civil certificate, and I put in the request with the New York City archives. They had no record! I though I was dead in the water, however I found out that the church certificate would be accepted because many churches in the late 1800s did not file the necessary papers to create the civil record.

After some extensive detective work, I found out the Grandma and Grandpa were married at Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New York City. The telephone book gave the address as152 West 71st Street, Manhattan. I was relieved to find that the church still existed. I requested an official copy of the marriage certificate for Timothy Healy and Ellen Maureen Doherty. In about a week, I had the church record. I was getting close, but there was a lot more ground to cover.

The next task was to get my Dad’s birth certificate. That was relatively easy, the New York City Municipal archives came up with the notarized certificate in short order. Then, I needed my Mom and Dad’s civil marriage record. I didn’t have any idea where Mom and Dad were married, and I explored some false leads in Manhattan. My sister Pat had a vague memory that they were married in Queens, and sure enough that was correct.

The document requirements seemed endless. Grandpa’s death certificate, my birth certificate, my marriage certificate. New York State and City records were up to the challenge, and I got everything I needed.

I filled out the application for Irish citizenship, enclosed my check, and Fedexed the package to the Irish Consulate in Chicago, which is responsible for Texas. There are four Irish Consular Missions in the U.S., Boston, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Application must be made to the appropriate office based on the applicants geographical location.

Six months later I received my certificate of entry in the Foreign Births Registry Book. I was now fully Irish on November 20th, 2002.
Next step was to get my Irish passport. I filed the application and received my passport effective on August 5, 2003.

I recommend buying the Dual Irish Citizenship Guide if you want to proceed. After you get the guide, contact the appropriate consular office listed in the guide to get the newest information, which may not have yet been included in the guide.

I had the opportunity to meet an Irish consulate official from the Chicago office, and I asked ehy it took six months to process my papaers. He said "We are swamped with applications". I got the impression that we now have immigration in reverse.

Next trip to Ireland and I will get in the short Customs line reserved for citizens of Ireland!