Kiss Me, I'm Irish

2025-07-29

I became shaoránach Éireannach, an Irish citizen. Had you told me this is where I would end up six years ago, I would not have believed you.

I moved to Ireland in May 2019 with no plan to settle. I was just passing through while waiting on my visa before making it to my final destination: San Francisco, California. Then the world closed down, and Ireland slowly opened itself up to me. One year became many. Somewhere between lockdown walks, canal cans, and learning about the Irish-language origins of place names, this island started to feel like home. Now, I am one of several thousand who made their way to Killarney, a postcard-perfect town in County Kerry in southwest Ireland, to take the oath of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State – the final step in becoming an Irish citizen.

For me, the process was straightforward and took just under 13 months. I submitted my application in May 2024. I was invited to complete an online Garda vetting request in November 2024. I received confirmation that the Minister for Justice intended to confer me with Irish citizenship at an upcoming citizenship ceremony in Killarney in May 2025. I attended the ceremony in June 2025. My certificate of naturalization arrived a month later. The sense of belonging, though, was there far longer.

Those to be conferred with Irish citizenship were welcomed at the Killarney Convention Centre at the Gleneagle Hotel. Officials with the Department of Justice witnessed candidates signing their written oaths of fidelity, handed out flag pins of the Irish tricolor, and a program booklet for the ceremony, before sending everyone into the hall where the ceremony would take place.

As people were finding their seats ahead of the ceremony, the No. 1 Army Band conducted by Captain Ben Jacob played pop tunes. The atmosphere was relaxed. I was seated between a lady from England to my right, and a lady from Nigeria to my left. Hundreds more seats filled with people from every corner of the world. The formal part of the ceremony began with the band playing the anthem of Europe. We were not asked to stand – a small disappointment for me, a convinced European.

Darragh Brennan, principal officer of the citizenship division in the Department of Justice, then welcomed everyone with a few opening remarks and introduced the Department of Defense’s Colour Party under the Command of Second Lieutenant Eoin Feeney. The Colour Party promptly entered stage right and marched toward a stage left position where they would stand at attention, like statues, for the remainder of the ceremony displaying the bratach na hÉireann, the flag of Ireland. The presence of the Colour Party gave the event a certain je ne sais quoi.

Mr. Brennan introduced Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and presiding officer Judge Paddy McMahon, then gave way to Deirdre Granville, who played “O’Carolan’s Welcome” on the harp.

Minister O’Callaghan gave a speech, thanking us for choosing Ireland as our home, and promising that Ireland would always be a home where we would be accepted, valued, cherished, celebrated, safe, and loved.

Harpist Deirdre Granville played “O’Carolan’s Concerto” as Minister O’Callaghan and Judge McMahon swapped positions at the podium.

Judge McMahon gave a short speech, and invited us to stand as he administered the oath of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State.

I, [Name] of [Address] having applied to the Minister for Justice for a certificate of naturalisation, hereby solemnly declare my fidelity to the Irish nation and my loyalty to the State. I undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.

After we had taken the oath, Judge McMahon officially conferred Irish citizenship on us, turning a room full of strangers into compatriots. Everyone remained standing as the No. 1 Army Band played the music of the Irish national anthem for this newest group of Irish citizens. There was no singing, although Minister O’Callaghan mouthed the words.

With the official business concluded, Minister O’Callaghan and Judge McMahon left the stage, followed by the Colour Party. Mr. Brennan took the stage once more for closing remarks, thanking the civil service for putting on the event, and commenting on the work that went into improving the citizenship application process. I can only concur. Thank you, and well done!

Iarnród Éireann, the Irish railway company, must have had the best few days of their year. On the return journey, every train car was filled with new Irish citizens, many proudly wearing a flag pin and carrying a story. That train ride back to Dublin marked a shared beginning of a story told in many accents.