Irish citizenship through descent - how does it work?

My biological grandparents (deceased) were Irish and born in the Republic of Ireland, however, my mother was born in England and adopted there at the age of 3. Can I still register for Irish citizenship by the descent from Irish grandparents rule, given that my grandparents were not my mother's legal guardians?
Or would my adoptive grandparents be considered my real grandparents in the eye of the law?
My mother never claimed her citizenship.

Can anyone help?

Reply 1

DK_Tipp

9

Are you, by any chance, a decent soccer or rugby player? In fact even a semi-decent athlete in any code? We'll sort ya out :wink:

Reply 2

DK_Tipp

9

On a more serious note... Have you tried here?

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/

Reply 3

sabian92

13

I believe if you are either 1st or 2nd Generation you can apply for Irish Citizenship. I'm eligible (I think) via my fiancee once we marry as her dad is Northern Irish (but if you are born in NI you can apply for a UK and an Eire passport) but she has to apply before me for citizenship. Not a lot of point as we both have UK passports and an Eire passport wouldn't get us in anywhere else Visa free anyway.

Reply 4

RemiMarcelle

17

Without reading that website, if you're part Irish biologically then I don't see why not.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 5

DK_Tipp

9

Original post by RemiMarcelle

Without reading that website, if you're part Irish biologically then I don't see why not.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yeah, I'd be fairly confident he's entitled to it.

OP- Do you know/remember the footballer Tony Cascarino? He qualified for the Republic through his maternal grandfather being Irish even though his mother was adopted and therefore not of Irish descent.

Reply 6

Magic works

OP

2

Original post by DK_Tipp

On a more serious note... Have you tried here?

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/

Yes, I was just looking at that. It's quite useful but doesn't say much about adoption so I thought I'd ask around. Thanks everyone for the input, it seems like I could apply by registering as a foreign birth. (Presumably I can have dual UK/Eire citizenship?)
Interesting about Tony Cascarino. So his adoptive grandfather was Irish?
I'm female, by the way. I dance if that's any help? :biggrin:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 7

beepbeeprichie

18

Utterly ridiculous. I'm descended from the Normans. Am I therefore French?

Reply 8

cl_steele

2

im curious why youd like to take up the citizenship as it offers no perks over British citizenship?

Reply 9

Tiina

9

Original post by beepbeeprichie

Utterly ridiculous. I'm descended from the Normans. Am I therefore French?

lol

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 10

DK_Tipp

9

Original post by Magic works

Yes, I was just looking at that. It's quite useful but doesn't say much about adoption so I thought I'd ask around. Thanks everyone for the input, it seems like I could apply by registering as a foreign birth. (Presumably I can have dual UK/Eire citizenship?)
Interesting about Tony Cascarino. So his adoptive grandfather was Irish?
I'm female, by the way. I dance if that's any help? :biggrin:

Dancing? Sure thing. Just join Riverdance = passport guaranteed.

I imagine once you produce evidence of your Irish heritage you'll be able to get one.

Reply 11

DK_Tipp

9

Original post by cl_steele

im curious why youd like to take up the citizenship as it offers no perks over British citizenship?

I don't know anything about OP so I can't comment about her situation but I'm fairly sure having an Irish passport entitles you to free fees in Scotland because of some EU loophole that means the Scots can charge other UK students but have to offer equal terms to EU students as Scottish students.
Certainly that story was widely reported and there was some stat about the number of English and Welsh students taking up Irish passports going up when that was brought in.

Also it probably entitles you to apply for financial support if you study in the Republic

Reply 12

Greenlaner

11

Original post by beepbeeprichie

Utterly ridiculous. I'm descended from the Normans. Am I therefore French?

The Normans were not French. They were a Nordic people, descendents of earlier Viking raiders who conquered and eventually settled in the Normandy region.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 13

Cool Cat

17

Original post by cl_steele

im curious why youd like to take up the citizenship as it offers no perks over British citizenship?

wondering this as well tbh

Reply 14

Magic works

OP

2

Original post by Cool Cat

wondering this as well tbh

If I decide to reside in the Republic permanently I imagine it would make things much simpler. Not to mention the extortionate cost of overseas tuition for a qualification I am interested in pursuing at Trinity in a few years' time if I decide not to register. But aside from that, I do like Ireland and I'm interested in my heritage, though I admit that certain elements of the law of descent are a stretch. I had no idea until recently that I might be entitled to citizenship.

Reply 15

DK_Tipp

9

Original post by Magic works

If I decide to reside in the Republic permanently I imagine it would make things much simpler. Not to mention the extortionate cost of overseas tuition for a qualification I am interested in pursuing at Trinity in a few years' time if I decide not to register. But aside from that, I do like Ireland and I'm interested in my heritage, though I admit that certain elements of the law of descent are a stretch. I had no idea until recently that I might be entitled to citizenship.

You know that your British nationality entitles you to pay EU fees at Trinity and not International ones? Although Irish nationality might entitle you to more support- not sure.

Aside from that... it might be safer travelling on an Irish passports in certain extreme situations because of neutrality. That is too far fetched a reason to switch allegiance but I suppose having a second passport is always handy.

Reply 16

beepbeeprichie

18

Original post by Greenlaner

The Normans were not French. They were a Nordic people, descendents of earlier Viking raiders who conquered and eventually settled in the Normandy region.

Well, they were the descendants of the Vikings and Franks. The Franks are what we would loosely call the French today.

Reply 17

Psyk

16

Original post by beepbeeprichie

Well, they were the descendants of the Vikings and Franks. The Franks are what we would loosely call the French today.

The Franks were Germanic though.

Reply 18

natz96

5

Original post by Magic works

My biological grandparents (deceased) were Irish and born in the Republic of Ireland, however, my mother was born in England and adopted there at the age of 3. Can I still register for Irish citizenship by the descent from Irish grandparents rule, given that my grandparents were not my mother's legal guardians?
Or would my adoptive grandparents be considered my real grandparents in the eye of the law?
My mother never claimed her citizenship.

Can anyone help?

Yes you're entitled to get an Irish passport! I'm actually in the same situation as you, however if you want citizenship that will cost around 270 euros!!

Irish citizenship through descent - how does it work?

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