Press release
Tánaiste launches Call for Submissions: Celebrating 100 Years of the Irish Passport
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, is inviting the public to share their personal passport stories, memories and family passport artefacts, as part of a special exhibition celebrating 100 years of the Irish passport.
Speaking on a visit to the passport office in Balbriggan, the Tánaiste said: “I am delighted to launch this public call for submissions celebrating 100 Years of the Irish Passport. This exhibition offers an opportunity for citizens to share significant and historic family heirloom passports and stories. Whether it is story about the travels of a family member or an emotional moment about receiving a passport for the first time, I encourage the public to share their pieces of history.”
Curated in association with EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, ‘On the Move, A Century of the Irish Passport’ will explore the history and evolution of Ireland’s most travelled document, shedding light on its role in shaping Irish identity, emigration, and global connections.
The exhibition will feature historic passports from well-known Irish people, celebrating the special occasions made possible by travel on an Irish passport, significant personal memories and events.
The Tánaiste added: “The Irish passport is more than just a travel document, it represents our identity, our freedom, and our connections to the world. To mark the centenary of the Irish Passport, we want to showcase the stories and experiences that make the Irish passport so special to our citizens.”
Catherine Healy, Historian-In-Residence at EPIC, commented: “The issuing of the first Irish passport marked an important moment in the history of Ireland. A symbol of Irish identity, it provided clear evidence of a commitment to engage with the world as an independent nation. The passport has since shaped countless lives and journeys, connecting a diaspora of many millions. We are delighted to be able to capture some of these stories in this forthcoming exhibition.”
Submissions can be made via email at passport@epicchq.com or through a dedicated form on the EPIC website, which allows for easy upload of stories, photographs, and documents. Contributors will be credited for their submissions, which may be included in the exhibition or promotional materials. The deadline for story submissions will be 26 March 2025 with further details available on the EPIC website.
The Tánaiste has also encouraged people to check their passport expiry date before making travel plans and to apply for their passport online, in plenty of time before they depart.
The Tánaiste said: “I know that in the next few weeks many families will be making plans for summer 2025. Making sure the passports of all those planning to travel are in date should be top of every family’s holiday checklist. Passport Online is the quickest, easiest and least expensive way for people at home and abroad to apply for their passports. This includes people applying for adult first time passports and, importantly, first time applications for small children. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days. Our Passport Online service means that 99.9% of applicants all over the world can now apply online.”
For more information or to renew your passport online, go to www.Ireland.ie/PassportOnline.