(And don't know it?)

In general, you can attain full Irish citizenship with little or no hassle if you can prove that at least one of your grandparents or a parent was born on the island of Ireland. In a rare exception, even a great-grandparent born on the Island of Ireland can suffice.

First of all, let me say this: In most cases you will not need any outside assistance to complete this process. You won't need consultants, their reports, attorneys or other bloodsuckers who promise to ease this process for you -- for a hefty fee. The process is fairly easy and though it will probably take a year to complete, you will have your Irish passport in hand if you are entitled to claim one.

That's all you need to have a second passport that entitles you to pretty much unrestricted entry and employment in Ireland and in 26 other European Union countries.

In most cases, including if you're from the United States, you do not have to relinquish citizenship in your native country.

What's more, if you finalize your application before you have children, any youngsters you ultimately have will automatically be Irish citizens, as well. (Needless to say, immigration into Ireland and many other countries is a hot topic these days, so things could change. We're not aware of any intentions of removing the 'granny clause' at this time, but updates will be published here if new circumstances arise.)

In these unsettling international times having vastly expanded relocation options is well worth consideration.

You may also email me regarding my personal experience as an American in gaining Irish citizenship and relocating to Ireland.

Footnote: One Irish diplomatic service employee told me that there are rarely more than 100 applications for Irish citizenship through ancestry being considered in the U.S. at any given time. However, the potential numbers of eligible applicants is huge. The Irish government estimates that there may be 40 million Americans who could legitimately claim to have some level of Irish ancestry. And though emigration has dwindled to record lows in recent years, as many as 14 million in the U.S. may still have at least a grandparent or parent who was born on this island.

Now, here are a few specifics from the Embassy of Ireland, in Washington, DC:, again, based on the law as of the beginning of Summer, 2004 (Note: some of this will almost certainly change as the Irish constitutional was changed in the 11.6.04 referendum. Now the Irish Parliament has the right in upcoming legislation to decide who becomes and who does not become an Irish citizen. This is regardless of whether the person is born here or not.)

Citizenship by Birth

From the Irish Embassy to the United States  website: Anyone born in the Republic of Ireland, or on the island of Ireland, is an Irish citizen, except children of parents holding diplomatic immunity in Ireland.

Anyone born outside of Ireland, whose father or mother was born on the island of Ireland, is an Irish citizen.

Citizenship by Descent

Anyone born outside Ireland, whose father or mother is an Irish citizen not born in Ireland, can become an Irish citizen by having his or her birth entered in the Irish Register of Foreign Births.

Anyone born outside Ireland, whose grandfather or grandmother was born in Ireland are very likely eligible for Irish citizenship by applying to have his or her birth entered in the Register of Foreign Births.

Further information for Americans and others may be obtained by contacting the Irish Embassy in Washington, 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-462-3939, or one of the Irish consulates in New York City, Boston, Chicago or San Francisco.