Citizenship ceremonies welcoming 950 people as Irish citizens took place in person for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hosted 2 very special citizenship ceremonies in Killarney, Kerry on Monday 20th June 2022, to welcome 950 people as they become Irish citizens.
The event was the first in-person citizenship ceremonies since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.
The ceremonies took place at the INEC in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Retired High Court Judge, Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon, and Retired District Court Judge, Mr. Paddy McMahon preside over one ceremony each.
Speaking at the second ceremony, McEntee said: “In granting Irish citizenship, Ireland has made a commitment to you, and I think a very symbolic commitment that resonates with our country’s history and with our people at home and abroad. A commitment that you will always, always have a home here with us. A place where you are accepted, where you are valued, where you are celebrated, and indeed, where you are safe,” she said.
“When I wrote to you inviting you to be part of today’s ceremony, I did say to you that becoming an Irish citizen does not mean leaving your own roots, your own culture, your own traditions, your own heritage, behind. In fact, quite the opposite.”
“We want you to bring your culture, your history, your dress, your poetry, your songs because we are the much richer for it. I am, this country, each and every one of us, we are the richer for it. We will add them to our heritage and our traditions of poetry, of song, of storytelling, and they will become part of our next history of our great state and its wonderful people.”
The in-person citizenship ceremonies in Killarney followed a number of initiatives that were developed and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to welcome Ireland’s newest citizens. In July 2020, Ireland was the first European country to host an e-citizenship ceremony and this was followed by three online celebration events in 2021.
In January 2021, Minister McEntee introduced a temporary system that enabled applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. Over 15,000 applicants had the opportunity to receive their citizenship certificates through the temporary system.
The last in-person ceremony was held in Killarney in early March 2020 just before lockdown.
Planning for additional in-person ceremonies in December 2022 in Killarney is currently underway.