4,000 new citizens attend Citizenship Ceremonies in Killarney
- Published on: 19 June 2023
- Last updated on: 13 July 2023
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee today welcomed the granting of citizenship to 4,000 new Irish citizens at ceremonies being held across two days in Killarney, Co. Kerry.
The Ceremonies are being held in the INEC Killarney over 19 and 20 June and applicants from 139 countries around the world will be conferred as Irish citizens.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris will address the ceremonies on 19 June, whilst Minister of State Niall Collins will address the ceremonies on 20 June.
Speaking ahead of the ceremonies today, Minister McEntee said:
“I congratulate and welcome our newest citizens on this milestone day in your lives. This marks the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one. Becoming an Irish citizen will guarantee certain fundamental rights under our Constitution. These rights are many and varied, but they will protect you, your family and your freedom.
"I encourage each new citizen to embrace your civic duty. It is an essential aspect of life in Ireland. It will empower you to become more engaged in civil society, whether it be in your local community or at a national level, some of you may choose to run for office in the coming years. Active involvement in the community will ensure everyone has a voice and will help strengthen our democracy.”
Today and tomorrow's ceremonies follow ceremonies hosted in the RDS, Dublin in March of this year.
Minister Harris, who represented the government at today’s Ceremonies, said:
“I am honoured to meet our new citizens and to congratulate them as they receive their Irish citizenship. The richness of our nation is not measured in our wealth, but in our people, in our differences, our similarities and our shared home here on this island. I offer my congratulations to our new citizens as they embark on the next steps of their lives in Ireland.”
Minister of State Collins, who will address Tuesday’s ceremonies, said:
“I wish to warmly welcome all of our new Irish citizens. I encourage all our new citizens to embrace their Irish civic duty and contribute in any way they can to their communities.”
The Presiding Officers at the ceremonies are retired Judges Mary Irvine and Deirdre Murphy who will administer the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State on Monday and Tuesday respectfully.
The new citizens also undertook to faithfully observe the law of the State and respect its democratic values.
Additional information
3,918 candidates from 139 countries will receive Irish citizenship across four separate ceremonies in the INEC Killarney on 19 and 20 June 2023.
Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 in order to mark the occasion of the granting of citizenship in a dignified and solemn manner. Since citizenship ceremonies were first introduced, there has been a total of 164 ceremonies (including 19 and 20 June) with people from over 180 countries receiving their certificates of naturalisation.
To date, including minors, approximately 161,000 people have received Irish citizenship since 2011. (figure of 161,000 includes the attendees at the June ceremonies and applicants who received citizenship via the Declaration process introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The top 10 nationalities receiving Irish Citizenship this week:
County breakdown for new citizens this week:
- Figures are based on invitations issued and responses received by end of 16 June 2023 – actual numbers on day(s) may vary slightly due to late withdrawals and/or late confirmations of attendance.