I am just one document away from Irish citizenship.

[Jara sang]

I need to obtain my Grandmother's birth certificate from Ireland. She was born in County Donegal. The application is very simple. My name, my father's name, my grandmother's name and the relevant information pertaining to their and my birth record. The hard part is getting my grandmother's birth certificate. It is kind of a catch 22, I don't know when she was born so I can't put that info on the request. I think that I will send it in with out her birth date, I have her death certificate and her age, so I'll just count backwards, send it in and hope for the best. Hope to get all this done before the end of the summer. Then I will tackle obtaining an Irish/EU passport.

[Maeve]

1. Are you planning to move or just getting the citizenship?

We didn't get as far north as Donegal last trip, but I do want to get up that way eventually.

No family bible or date on her tombstone, that sort of thing? (But then, my grandma's grave has her name wrong, because she hated her first name!) Good luck!

[Jara sang]

2. I am going to maintain dual citizenship

That is until life in the U.S. is unbearable.

[CountAllVotes]

12. I'm hanging on with you FYI!

So you are not alone.

We stay and we fight!

No one fights like the Irish do! :toast:

:kick:

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

3. To where do you apply for birth certificates?

Both my father's parents are from County Donegal...

[Jara sang]

10. Offices of Superintendent Registrars

http://www.irelandemb.org/fbr.html

Send your application directly to the county in which your grandparent was born. If you do not know the county, send the application to the Registrar’s Office in Dublin. If your grandparent was born in Northern Ireland before 1922 send your application to the Registrar’s Office in Dublin.

Donegal North
(074) 24576
St. Conal’s Hospital, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Donegal South
(074) 31038
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal

[Tweed]

4. How far can you back?

I'm guessing you have to have your grandparents born in Ireland. That would be cool if it as your great grandparents though.

[Maeve]

5. Here's a quick chart

And a link to more info:

A (Born in Ireland) Irish Citizen
B (Child of A) Irish Citizen
C (Child of B grandchild of A) Must register to obtain Irish citizenship
D (Child of C great-grandchild of A) May register for Irish citizenship, provided that 'C' had registered by the time of 'D's' birth

http://www.movetoireland.com/

[LisaLynne]

6. Are you serious?

I'm so totally in!!!!

[XanaDUer]

8. After 1984

It only goes back as far as grandparent(s).

[JohnKleeb]

9. even great grandparents wouldnt help me

Great Grandmother and Father was born here in the states as well.

[XanaDUer]

7. Do you know about the vital records at Joyce House in Dublin?

http://www.groireland.ie/fees.htm

I'm attempting to do the same (get dual citizenship with IReland).

[DemBones DemBones]

11. OK, I'm SOOL on Irish citizenship -- it was my

greatgrandmothers who were Irish -- but does anyone know about British citizenship? My paternal grandparents came to America from England.

[mdmc]

13. wow

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

14. I'm going to look into what I have to do to get Irish citizenship.

My husband was born and raised in Ireland. We're going "home" for Christmas, three whole weeks, and while we're there I'm gonna look into it.

We own a home in Ireland and are seriously considering re-locating there sometime in the near future.

He also has dual citizenship. Having an Irish/EU passport makes things so much easier for him going through immigration at the Dublin airport. He's through in about 5 minutes, while I have to wait in line...

[CountAllVotes]

15. info. on Irish citizenship

The policies have changed a lot since 9/11.

Here is the link that tells you the specifics:

http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/citizenship/default.asp?m=s

Please note: It can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find a birth certificate for a grandparent (depending upon when that grandparent was born), especially if before the year 1920.

Best of luck to you.

[Jara sang]

16. It's not that hard really.

I just recently sent off for my grandmother's birth certificate, her birth year was 1886. They sent me one back, correct name but it was the wrong person. I am sending them(Joyce House) more info on my grandmother so they can get me the proper one.

[CountAllVotes]

17. more info.

:hi:

I got this information from the Secretary of the Clan I belong to. He is an excellent resource and resides in Ireland and is ~80 years old. This might explain why finding birth certificates can be very difficult.

>> Ancestral research in Ireland is not easy. Records of deaths, births and marriages only began about 1860. Up until 1922 many people didn't register at all. Why should they? Officialdom was in the hands of the British Government who at that time occupied all of Ireland against the will of the majority of the Irish people. And by registering, one was accepting their authority. Anyway, there was little or nothing to be gained by registering at that time. Under the Irish Free State (1922 onwards) all deaths, births and marriages were recorded properly.

I have two aunts who immigrated to the US in 1926. One is 93 and lives in Phila. the other 96 and lives in Stamford, Conn. When they applied for their Social Security they were asked to produce their Birth Certificate. On checking with the registrar in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, it transpired there was no record of their births.

In order to establish your 'Roots' it is essential to know the townland your ancestors came from. During the first half of the last century the population of Ireland was double what it is today. <<

Keep looking and I do wish you luck.

CountAllVotes

:kick:

[Jara sang]

18. My family is from Donegal as well.

McCallions and McLaughlins. Joyce House was very helpful, they fulfilled my request very quickly. It was really my fault that they sent me the wrong birth certificate. I had the wrong birth year on the application.

[Justpat]

19. I have been thinking of doing this also.

And my grandparents also came from county Donegal. Thank God my mother kept all the records of the family history
and their move here. I would like to obtain dual citizenship with an eye toward moving there within five years.

Thanks for the post. OB

[CountAllVotes]

20. geez ....

Maybe we should all pack up and move to Donegal. It's a wonderful place! I spent almost a month there this past summer! :thumbsup: all the way for good ol' Donegal!

Erin go braugh!!!!

:dem:

[Justpat]

21. My daughter went two years ago to meet our relatives there.

She had a great time - loved being there and being with them.

She has it in the back of her mind to go there too.

[LostinVA]

22. I got Italian citizenship, so I have dual citizenship now

However, my Mom's family is quite Irish-American, and I'm planning to move to Ireland in a few years -- gotta love that EU passport!

[Na Gael]

23. Italy? ...Really?

My wife's grandfather is/was from Italy (Montepagano), and we would be most interested in the process.