If you’re Irish descent you should know about Jus Sanguinis…
The Nationality and Citizenship Act allows any person with an Irish grandparent to become an Irish citizen “by registering in the Foreign Births Register at an Irish embassy or consular office, or at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.”
Such an individual may also pass their Irish nationality entitlement to his or her children, even if not choosing to take up citizenship, provided he or she has registered with the Foreign Births Register before the children are born.
In a nutshell if you have one or more Irish grandparents, and havn’t claimed Irish nationality, but want to preserve the option for any of your future offspring, then you should register.
It’s one of those things you don’t tend to think about when you’re younger, but wished you’d known about it often after the opportunity has passed. (Sometimes the arrival of a new child is a surprise!)
Here’s the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin – the home page has links to Irish embassies and consulates around the world, and here’s the page detailing the documents required etc. It may look a bit long-winded, but not really in the overall scheme of things.
And to finish off, Jus sanguinis is the latin for ‘right of blood’, and is a social policy by which nationality or citizenship is determined not by place of birth, but by having an ancestor who is a national or citizen of the state.
We’d like to see Irish citizenship rules changed, but whilst it is like it is, and if Irish heritage is important to you, don’t let time catch you out.
We received the following message out of the blue last Thursday, and it prompted me to write to the author as it brought my thoughts back to an age old question ‘if I have a strong sense of my Irishness why can’t it be acknowledged in a more formal way?’
Extracts from the letter we received:
My name is Ryan McNelis and I am an American of Irish descent. I have over 40 million fellow Irish Americans, many of whom share my predicament. You see, I wish to have my birth registered in the Foreign Births Register so that I can become an Irish citizen. While I have no less than 4 (and probably 5) great grandparents who were born in Ireland, I unfortunately have no grandparents born in Ireland and do not qualify under current law.
I urge Ireland to change its citizenship by descent laws to enable people like me to become dual citizens of Ireland. I know many other Irish-Americans lament the fact they are denied the chance to become part of the Irish community.
Reasons to allow us to be citizens:
Allowing us to become dual citizens means we will spend more money in Ireland.
Many of us, including me, would like to consider retiring to Ireland, where we would collect American Social Security payments and serve as a net influx of funds to our new homeland.
There is no burden on Irelands social programs, none of us are seeking Irish welfare.
Most Irish Americans cherish their Irish ancestry, ties to the Church, and fundamental ideals in Republican forms of government, and strongly supported Ireland’s quest for independence, and should be allowed to become part of the Irish community.
Under current law, famous Irish Americans like John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy would not be eligible for citizenship. These and others have helped shape the world in a positive way – Ireland should embrace them and their Irish American brothers and sisters with open arms.
Americans have a lot of money, and we like to spend a lot of money. We are highly educated and skilled workers, and could help serve the interests of Ireland either in Ireland, or in America. Look at President Obama, without the backing of Irish American voters he would never have won the election. Irish Americans are a powerful constituency in America and empowering them with dual citizenship would give Ireland a stronger voice in America.
If someone has 2 or more Irish born great-grandparents surely they have the same percentage of Irish heritage as someone with 1 irish born grandparent? yet one can only apply for citizenship in the latter case. Why not implement a 2 great grandparent policy? After all, it is the same percentage of Irish heritage as the current implementation of the law allows for.
Please change this law and policy.
Sincerely,
Ryan McNelis
The letter also included observations about nationalities without an Irish connection who are able to apply for citizenship, and how this engendered a feeling of disengagement by Irish Americans who are prevented from doing so. Ryan also applied some mathematical calculations to try and determine a percentage calculation of Irishness based on lines of descendency. I chose to leave this part out as we believe it should be based on the strength of ones sense of their Irish heritage, rather than who was born where and when.
Having received the letter from Ryan I wrote back to him with a few questions:
– Have you written to others.
– Are you aware of any recognition of the points made from the Irish government.
– Where in the US are you based.
– Are you representing yourself as an individual or part of an organisation.
Ryans response:
“Yes, I have been sending this to others, have sent it I think to every member of the Irish Parliament, and have gotten a few replies. I am not a member of any group, just myself, my family, and other similarly situated Irish Americans that would like to have the ability to become citizens.
Greece and Israel allow for citizenship through ancestry without regard to generational time limits, Ireland should do the same. It’d give Ireland a stronger voice in the world and greater access to other markets. It’s good for everyone and Ireland should seriously consider such a change.
I live in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union, south of Boston, and east of New York City.
The entire greater Boston area is rich in Irish culture, home to the Kennedys, and incorporates Irish names into towns, streets, and sports teams. I am a law student, and will graduate and be admitted to the bar to practice law within one year.
I could polish up a better letter with more insight, but this was sent just to get the basic premise out and talked about. This is an issue I would love to see addressed and resolved. I visited Ireland once and would love to return on an Irish passport next time.”
Some will say nothing new here, its been a topic for discussion over the years, but I think there’s a couple of interesting aspects:
Ryan is a young man, 3rd generation Irish, who feels the drive to get the discussion going again, and
He’s raising this not when Ireland is in the middle of a boom, but in a recession.
My thoughts are along the lines that here we have someone who is future America stating his personal affection for Ireland. Someone who might not be recognised for this in Ireland itself unless he actually stands up and says so. Someone who still feels the Irish influences on his life probably stemming back to the late 1800s early 1900s. On top of that, given that Ireland is currently in economic difficulty, there is no apparent desire to capitalise on Ireland as a state. The emphasis seems to be more on joint benefit and the possible advantages of allowing dual citizenship for Irish americans.
Putting political agendas to one side, I hope we will see a renewed debate on this one. The Irish Government is currently initiating a global strategy to engage more deeply with the diaspora, and Irish American citizenship will we hope be part of the discussions.
Minister Michael Martin emphasised that the initiative forms part of a wider strategy of deeper Government engagement, and is intended to complement the Ireland-United States Strategic Review launched by the Taoiseach in New York on March 15th earlier this year.
You can get some information about the Global Irish Economic Forum here, and I will write more on ‘Irishness’ in another post.
Right now though let’s dwell on life from Ryans perspective.
If you’re anywhere near Minneapolis and have a passion for harp and voice, and a desire to learn, you’re very much in luck. Former Riverdance singer and harpist Katie McMahon is teaching beginning and intermediate harp & voice and you can get all the details at her new website here.
Harp: Katie teaches the classical technique she studied from her own wonderful harp teacher Denise Kelly (Ireland’s National Symphony Orchestra harpist), and special emphasis is placed on technique, music reading skills and musicality. Once you reach a certain proficiency you are encouraged to pursue whatever musical style you wish, whether it be jazz, rock classical, Irish or folk.
Voice: Katie is a classically trained soprano and has also delved into folk and new age. She is open to teaching in many styles and you will also learn about proper breathing technique and interpretation of the lyrics and music.
What can we say, an opportunity to learn from a real star, and we expect to hear the sweet sound of music drifting beautifully over the City of Lakes!
The first Fastnet Short Film Festival took place in Schull last weekend and has been applauded as a resounding success. Film-makers from around the world submitted their works, and over 80 films were shown during the three-day period.
The festival itself had an impressive list of patrons and this, along with the lead up promotion of the event, encouraged some top quality producers to enter their films. With the picturesque backdrop of Schull you’d be forgiven for likening it to the ‘slightly larger’ event taking place in France at the same time!
In the words of the organisers ‘the aim of the Fastnet Short Film Festival is to bring together established and future film makers and provide a forum to celebrate the short film genre. Our wish is to build this festival into an event recognised by the film industry, and to identify and encourage film makers of the future.’
Well the celebration was an undoubted success, and with the goodwill expressed by many and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the organisers, this is sure to build into an annual affair that can only go from strength to strength.
Although not a competition as such, the judging panel did select films for various categories that were given special recognition. These were:
Best of Festival: ‘An Cosc’ – directed by Vincent Gallagher
Best Drama: ‘Penny’ – directed by Paddy O’Shea
Best Cinematography: ‘Tart’ – directed by Mairtin De Barra
Best Use of Music: ‘Of Best Intentions’ – directed by Brian Durnin
Best Comedy: ‘Hammerhead’ – directed by Sam Donovan
Best Director: ‘Play’ directed by Muriel d’Ansembourg
Best Documentary: ‘The Stolen Generation’ by Kim Houghton and Pól O Conghaile
Best Experimental/Animated Film: ‘Tomato Soup’ by Paul O’ Brien
Best Screenplay: ‘The Escort’ – by Clare Holman
Here’s the official Fastnet Short Film Festival site, and here’s a photo taken from the closing ceremony acknowledging the efforts of the organising committee:
Well done everyone, great stuff and immensely enjoyable, and we look forward to Schull 2010!
Some people acquire art as investment, others because its the in thing, but maybe the best way is simply to buy when you like what you see. Ireland has a great wealth of artistic talent and today it’s ‘Dublin Day…’
Valerie Byrne
“I am an artist who likes to make the world smile. I observe the odd things, the normal, the abnormal, the absurd, and the comical and create a world within a real world setting.”
James Callis
A selection of original Oil and Acrylic paintings many of them depicting the Irish landscape.
Roger Cummiskey
Roger is a Dublin Watercolourist, living between Ireland and southern Spain. He has developed a unique individual style and specializes in paintings that take their themes and titles from the wanderings and writings of James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Miguel de Cervantes and other Literary and Historical personalities.
Carla Daly
Carla Daly is an illustrator specializing in nursery arts and artwork for kids.
Peter Dee
Peter works mainly in oils, painting various subjects including landscapes, seascapes and still life compositions.
Felim Egan
His abstract paintings are almost landscapes, with a magical quality that his neighbour, the poet Seamus Heaney, has aptly described “a balance of shifting brilliances”.
Jim Fitzpatrick
His ornate, colourful and intensely decorative Celtic artwork is now so well-known and unique that it is instantly recognisable.
Paul Flynn
Pauls art is influenced by Irish landscape, culture, writers, storytellers, the people and all aspects of Irish life which in itself has a story to tell.
Katarzyna Gajewska
“My painting process is something between my dreams and documentation. My art is situated in the middle; not in the realistic and not in the abstract, in popular meaning.
I am looking for human simplicity and complexity in the same way.”
Guggi
Guggi has exhibited his minimalistic paintings, representations of bowls and vessels, in various galleries, including the Tony Shafrazi Gallery (New York), the Osborne Samuel Gallery (London) and the Solomon Gallery (Dublin).
Brendan Higgins
“I produce pop art style portraits with the aim of creating artwork that is accessible by everyone, absolutely unique, affordable in price and of the highest quality.”
Liz Kane
“I like abstract compositions for their ability to express abstract concepts in a playful way, while inviting the viewer to explore another view of what may or may not be, that which is understood as content.”
Alan Kenny
There is a great sense of both a spiritual as well as an aesthetic attitude in Alan’s work. Each painting, with its elegant yet potent calligraphic lines, flattened composition and exaggerated perspectives resonates a kind of chaotic, yet idyllic sense of fun and humour.
Graham Knuttel
Initially renowned for his large wooden mechanical structures, Graham Knuttel has more recently emerged as a painter with a rapidly growing international reputation.
Jonathan Knuttel
“I love the conflict between rushes of vibrant colour and bold, stark lines. Colour gives roundness to a surface, depth in the feeling of a surface. Colour is the rhythm, form and mood of a picture.”
Louis le Brocquy
“I sometimes think of the activity of painting as a kind of archaeology – an archaeology of the spirit.”
Gena Lynam
Her impressionistic seascapes, landscapes and flower studies are widely shown in major galleries in the West and South of Ireland and in Dublin. Her work is also held in many private collections around the world.
Tony Lynch
“Currently i am painting landscapes in oil, having just completed oil portraits, mainly of Irish traditional musicians.”
Anne Madden
Anne represented Ireland at the 1965 Paris Biennale. In 1999 she painted Empyrius on the vaulted ceiling of the International Contemporary Art Centre in France.
Louise Mansfield
Louise exhibits her work throughout Europe. Her most recent shows were solo shows in London and Dublin as well as being invited to the Biennale in Florence, Italy.
Anna Matykiewicz
Painting, drawing, stained glass, photography and visual art.
Brian McCarthy
The old master influence goes beyond his use of light and shadow – it’s as though his paintings are a synthesis whereby traditional techniques are fused with his own modern ideas.
Joe McGuinness
“If you happen to be in Dublin any Sunday afternoon, say hello to me there on Merrion Square where you will find me exhibiting my works.”
Simon Meyler
Always receptive to diverse artistic styles, he has explored every aspect with the aim of forging an innovative interpretation of everyday subjects, which has matured into a style that is uniquely his own.
Carmel Mooney
…her latest sculptures of “submerged” glass were exhibited at the the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, Merrion Sq., Dublin.
John Morris
“My paintings are about light and the effects of light on objects such as figures, water, landscape; they are about minute colour changes.”
Laura Mulligan
Her expressive paintings are full of movement, and as a colourist she uses a vibrant and intense palette. She draws her inspiration from the desire to commit to canvas the essence of a mood, a feeling, or a fleeting moment, and from the wild landscapes of Ireland and other countries, such as Morocco, France and Mexico.
Roisin O’Shea
Róisín O’Shea is an internationally published water-colour artist. Her work is reproduced in many forms including fine art prints, calendars, books, greetings cards, placemats and collector’s plates.
David Quinn
David exhibits with the Taylor Galleries, Kildare Street, Dublin.
James Quinn
He works with Acrylic on canvas, mixed media, and also with digital imagery. The work is probably best classified by the era in which it is produced rather than attributing a ‘style’ to it.
“Rasher” – Mark Kavanagh
After attracting interest with several self-mounted shows, he held a successful one-man show in Dublin which led to newspaper profiles, and an appearance on the Late Late Show. Since then he has established himself as one of the most interesting painters of his generation.
Owen Rohu
Owen exhibits with galleries in Dublin, Clifden, Cork and Westport. His paintings are held privately in Ireland, Australia and the U.S.A
Paul Ryan
” My intention is not to try and imitate but evoke and reflect, to portray an idea of the coastal landscape being an idealised space leaving room for an emotional response.”
Vivienne St Clair
“Painting can be many things. For me painting is about observing and learning. I paint the things I love, usually driven by the beauty of what is before me.”
Conor Walton
Conor Walton was born in Dublin in 1970 and studied in the National College of Art and Design, from which he graduated in 1993 with a Joint Honours Degree in the History of Art and Fine Art (Painting).
Karen Wilson
“The subject of my paintings are varied and include landscapes, poppies, roses and more recently lilies, nearly taking the subject to abstraction. My medium is mainly oil or acrylic in an impasto style on block canvas. I paint from life and follow the seasons to source my inspiration.”
…and if your mind wants to wander further you should also check out the bad art gallery and their ‘RHA UNSELECTED SHOW’ running from May 14 – June 4th 2009!
Nothing suits the rarefied world of fine art like a breath of fresh air, and it’s blowing right now along Francis Street in Dublin – the Sunday Business Post.
The London Irish Centre is the largest Irish community organisation in the world, outside of Ireland. Based in Camden Square, North London, it has been providing a wide range of welfare services, and social and cultural events for over 50 years.
Apart from being a great venue the centre also hosts regular group meetings. Some of the activities taking place on a weekly or bi-weekly basis include Irish language classes, Irish dancing classes, Irish music lessons, pensioners tea dance, ceili dancing with live music, set dancing, poetry workshops and GAA training.
If you’re Irish and in london its well worth keeping up to date with whats happening. There’s a broad spectrum of events and activities so plenty to interest, and its great to see the community spirit alive and kicking!
Centre websites: londonirishcentre.net – for an overview of the venue facilities. irishcentre.org – for activities, newsletter and upcoming events. facebook.com – the London Irish Centre on Facebook.
It’s a little way off but one for the diary is the ‘Return to Camden Town’ festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance. The festival will run from 23rd October to 1st November and includes top traditional players, singers and dancers from the UK, Ireland, and the US. A full programme of concerts, céilís, workshops, sessions, and lectures for adults and children at all levels makes Camden a great place to be later this year!
Irish culture and tradition is flourishing in London and well done to the ‘Camden Crew’ for all the sterling work.
The Great Irish Famine, or ‘An Gorta Mor’ (The Great Hunger), will be commemorated this year by the first ever provincial National Famine Memorial Day, to be held on the 17th May in Skibbereen, West Cork.
A programme of famine-related events have been organised by the local community including music, drama, talks and a variety of commemorative events, and the full schedule can be downloaded from the Skibbereen Heritage Centre website here.
Communities around the Republic are also being encouraged to hold commemorations, and sporting organisations are being asked to observe a minute’s silence on National Famine Memorial Day.
The Great Famine resulted in the formation or growth of many diaspora communities, and in the 1840s and 50s as many as 250,000 arrived in Canada for example. In recognition of this Canada will also be holding its own memorial day this coming week-end on 10th May.
While the famine was responsible for a significant increase in emigration it was not the sole cause. Irish movement can be traced back to the middle of the 18th century when some quarter of a million people left Ireland to settle in the New World. From the defeat of Napoleon to the beginning of the famine between 1 and 1½ million had emigrated. However, during the worst of the famine, emigration reached around 250,000 in one year alone, with more coming from western Ireland than any other part.
Emigration from 1845 to 1850 was predominantly to England, Scotland, the US, Canada, and Australia, and by 1854 between 1½ and 2 million Irish had left due to evictions, starvation, and harsh living conditions.
In support of the Memorial Day, Eneclann is commemorating two Skibbereen doctors, (Dr. Daniel Donovan and Dr. David Hadden), who worked tirelessly to save people during these terrible times, and are also donating 5% of their CD sales to Gorta during the commemoration week. (Gorta is Ireland’s longest established overseas aid agency and has been tackling the issues of food security throughout the developing world since 1965. Gorta’s name, meaning “famine”, acknowledges its close association with extreme hunger, both historically in Ireland, and where it exists around the world today).
You can read more about the Eneclann / Gorta initiative here, and take a few moments to have a look at Eneclanns online shop as well – its an absolute treasure trove full of hidden gems!
The annual Famine Memorial Day will revolve between the four provinces of Ireland, and it is envisaged that the 2010 commemoration will take place in Co Mayo.
An active and vibrant clan building bonds among all Cassidys and their descendants from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (where the Cassidys originated from). The next rally is in 2011 so stay tuned to the official website below for details and other news:
Website: www.cassidyclan.org: free genealogy consultation, the clan newsletter 4 times a year, clan rallies, research, and special projects.
Give us the news and we’ll pass it on…
If you have a story to tell, launched a new business, got an initiative off the ground, landed on a foreign shore and getting your foot on the first rung, or just have some good news with an inspirational nature let us know and we'll pass it on.
Extracts from the letter we received:
The Great Famine resulted in the formation or growth of many diaspora communities, and in the 1840s and 50s as many as 250,000 arrived in Canada for example. In recognition of this Canada will also be holding its own memorial day this coming week-end on 10th May.
