PICS: Ireland welcomes its newest 3,350 citizens

Little girls with pink bows in their hair, tall men in turbans, and nuns in habits were just some of the 3,350 people in Dublin’s Convention Centre yesterday being declared as Ireland’s newest citizens.

Their declarations, brings the number of new Irish citizens, in the last four and a half years, to 94,000.

For a country, whose history both recent and past, is blighted by emigration, citizenship ceremonies here are a sight to behold — as thousands of former immigrants are welcomed with open arms into the Irish family.

“When the State honours you today, by granting you citizenship, it does not require you to forget the country you come from, it does not ask you to erase your personal and unique memories, your personal and your unique history,” said retired High Court Judge Bryan McMahon as he presided over the ceremony.

Heads nodded in agreement and hands wiped tears from faces as they fell from new Irish eyes.

“When you make your personal declaration of fidelity to the State do not forget your own country, your own people, your own traditions.

“Such memories are not contraband. Bring with you your songs, your music and your stories, some day your children and your children’s children will ask about their grandparents and they will inquire about the old country.

Andyson Alonzo from the Philippines, but now living in Galway, who received Irish citizenship with daughter Aira, 6, and wife Rosalie. Picture: Gareth Chaney, Collins

“Do not deny them their legacy. It is your duty and your responsibility to remind them about that part of their story, that is to be found in another land,” he added.

Referring to the American poet, Langston Hughes’ poem, ‘I, Too’, the retired judge quoted the final line, ‘I, too, am America’.

He then asked our country’s newest sons and daughters to turn to one another, as if at Sunday mass, and shake hands saying: “I, too, am Ireland.”

Judge McMahon leaned on this line as a way to help Ireland’s newest citizens face any racism they may encounter. “In recent weeks we have seen some reports of unfortunate racist remarks addressed at some of our newest citizens and some of our asylum seekers — do not pay much attention to that,” he said.

His words were met by spontaneous applause.

To lighten the mood, he asked the newly-declared Irish men and women, wherever they may have come from, to bring with them their country’s talents and skills, to areas we may be lacking here in Ireland.

“Those of you who come from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, bring with you your cricket bats and your wickets. We have an emerging cricket team but we could do with some help,” he joked.

Dublin Convention Centre staff Annet Iredale and Deirdre O’Brien with new Irish citizen Anab Ismail Mohamed from Somalia. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Also speaking yesterday, was Minister for Equality, New Communities and Culture for Aodhan O’Riordain.

“Becoming a citizen of Ireland means much more than having an Irish passport or being able to vote. These of course are very important but at a much deeper level you are affirming your commitment to the values we cherish most and which are rooted in our history. We welcome you to our national family,” he said. The new Irish citizens then stood for their new anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann.