Over 6,000 citizens were granted their Irish citizenship at seven ceremonies held over the last two days at the INEC Killarney in Co Kerry.
This brings the total number of people who received citizenship this year to over 30,000 — a significant jump from the 20,000 decisions made in 2023.
The ceremonies saw applicants from 140 nations conferred as Irish citizens and were administered the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State.
Citizens from India, the UK, Brazil, Romania, and Poland were among the top five nationalities conferred with Irish citizenship.
Speaking ahead of the ceremonies, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “Our new citizens play an essential role fuelling growth in our economy. They also contribute immensely to industries where we have labour shortages like construction, agriculture, and healthcare. They also make our workforce more diverse and inclusive.”
Recently, the Department of Justice has brought in significant changes to speed up the application process of applicants, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting.