In the mid-19th century, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. Its economy was based on the production of potatoes , which was the main food for the vast majority of its population. An epidemic destroyed crops and plunged Ireland into a desperate economic and social crisis that led to a deep famine. It is estimated that around a million people died of starvation. the great irish famineit caused a great emigration, mainly towards the United States, Canada and Australia. It is estimated that the population of Ireland fell from eight million inhabitants to four and a half million as a result of the crisis, between deaths and emigrants. This is the main origin of the extended Irish communities that settled mainly in English-speaking countries, although the migratory current was sustained over time. Emigration that has influenced the culture of the countries that welcomed them, at the same time that they have generated a large number of descendants who can access Irish citizenship. Dual citizenship is allowed under Irish law, as well as the laws of many other countries, such as the United States, so if you have at least one parent,
Access to Irish citizenship allows any descendant born after citizenship has been granted to have the right to be a citizen of Ireland, while also allowing the obtaining of the Irish passport which, being Ireland part of the European Union, allows travel and live in any of the 28 countries that make it up.
The Republic of Ireland, in its constitution, considers the counties belonging to British Ulster (the former “Northern Ireland”) to be its own territory. Therefore, people born in the Ulster counties before 1922, despite being administratively of British nationality, are also considered Native Irish by the Republic of Ireland, as are their descendants.
Access to Irish citizenship for being descended from a native Irish is not automatic, but must be processed. Therefore, if you wish to process Irish citizenship, you must go to the Irish consulate closest to your home and request the corresponding form, and provide the documentation requested to verify descent. The process can take between three months and a year, although the deadlines have been extended recently due to the great demand for registered applications after Brexit (Unilateral withdrawal from the European Union by Great Britain).
Fountain
Phelim P. Boyle, Cormac O. Grade. Fertility trends, excess mortality, and the Great Irish Famine. Demography, volume 23, number 4, 1986.
