Dozens of Leitrim residents among 6000 new Irish citizens conferred in Dublin

Dozens of Leitrim residents are among 6000 new Irish citizens conferred at a recent ceremony in Dublin. 

According to the Department of Justice, six separate ceremonies took place across Monday December 18 and Tuesday December 19 2023 in the Convention Centre in Dublin, with applicants from 131 countries conferred as citizens.

New citizens were most likely to be from India, Brazil, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. 

Twenty five people living in Leitrim attended the recent ceremonies, marking it as one of the counties with the fewest new citizens. 

Just two people each in Co Armagh and Co Fermanagh were conferred at the December ceremonies, followed by four in Co Tyrone. 

Most new citizens were reportedly living in Dublin (2916), followed by Cork (551) and Kildare (371). 

To date, approximately 173,000 people have become Irish since 2011 when citizenship ceremonies were first introduced. 

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said attending the events was "always a unique privilege". 

She said, "I would like to warmly congratulate and welcome our newest citizens on this milestone day in their lives.

"Today marks the end of one journey and the beginning of an exciting new one for them. Our new citizens enrich Ireland with their presence and our society reaps the benefits which they bring."