Over 600 Cork applicants receiving Irish citizenship this week 

Public representatives in Cork have congratulated the almost 620 people from across the county who are set to receive Irish citizenship this week.

Across yesterday and today, six ceremonies will be held at the Convention Centre in Dublin by the minister of state with responsibility for migration, Colm Brophy, finance minster Paschal Donohoe, and ministers of state Robert Troy and Neale Richmond, where 6,000 people will receive Irish citizenship nationwide.

Applicants receiving citizenship in Cork represent the second-highest number of citizenship awardees after Dublin, with 619 and 2,949 applicants, respectively.

Speaking to The Echo, Cork East Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley said that “619 more Cork people can only be good for Cork. Congratulations to each and every Cork-Irish citizen receiving their citizenship this week.

“It just goes to show how people embrace our heritage and culture ... and will be proud to call themselves Irish.”

Green Party councillor for the Cork City North East ward, Oliver Moran, said that for the people who are here, working and “putting down roots”, receiving citizenship is “something that’s very emotional for them”.

“That includes people from countries we don’t always associate with immigration coming here, like Canada and New Zealand,” said Mr Moran.

“It can be the end of a long journey of seeking asylum, to finally having a home, or a conscious decision after a long time in the workforce and local areas.

“One of the things the recent attention on the flag has highlighted is that we have always been a republic of diverse religions, traditions, and even languages.

“The promise of the republic is to cherish every citizen equally, oblivious to differences.

“That’s a message that had a particular significance 100 years ago, but it’s still one that we can think about today and what it means.”

Applications were received from more than 138 countries, with successful applicants on a national scale including 1,331 from India, 608 from Brazil, 485 from Britain, and 161 from the US.

Other successful applicants include 402 from Romania, 361 from Poland, 318 from the Philippines, 213 from South Africa, 211 from Nigeria, and 173 from China, including Hong Kong.