The homeland of the Irish has always been a place of wonder and excitement for travelers. In recent years especially, many have voiced a strong interest in gaining Irish citizenship or moving to the Emerald Isle.
GCSU’s Study Abroad Advisor, Ariana Youmans, expressed her delight for Ireland as she lived and found her husband on the island. She recalls a different pace of life where there was more of a focus on one’s being and less on career expectations.
“I loved living in Ireland,” Youmans said. “It gave me the personal space to be who I wanted to be, without any other person’s expectations or who anyone had known me to be up until that point.”
The fascination with the Irish stems from the perpetuation of mysticism and magic told in stories of folklore. Americanized celebrations of Irish holidays, such as Saint Patrick’s Day, play into this folkloric feeling of the Irish spirit.
“I think there’s a certain spiritual quality, if you wanna call it that, that’s in our DNA,” Youmans said. “So many people’s heritage is linked back to Ireland or nearby parts of the world, so I think instinctually we feel a connection to it without understanding that’s where the connection comes from.”
Many students who have some bit of Irish descent or who grew up in places with strong Irish heritage often feel a connection to the island, whether that connection is distant or relative.
“I have Irish descent and honestly, it’s beautiful there,” said Caitlyn Balcom, a junior psychology major. “I think it would be very calm, very fun and I’d like to learn about heritage and stuff.”
Olivia Hohnerlein, a junior accounting major, feels some semblance of a bond to the country and its culture through her and her family’s red hair. She expresses that there is no specific reason for a fascination with the island but that living in Savannah, where the Irish are a big deal, has perpetuated the interest.
A major factor for the additional intrigue of citizenship is, in part, the Irish government’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The government’s promotion of the grant has piqued many Americans’ interest, especially following the presidential election.
“I mean, offering people money to let people live there, that’s doing more than what we’re doing here in the U.S.,” Balcom said.
According to Citizens Information, the grant aims to boost the population of the remote islands in the Atlantic Ocean and offers homeowners $92,000 to renovate or refurbish vacant properties for either the homeowners’ living or long-term renting. The grant applies to both Irish citizens and non-Irish citizens, contributing to further interest in the country’s citizenship.
For the students or locals who are curious about accessing citizenship in Ireland, the Irish government has several ways to do so. Students can gain citizenship by naturalization or by descent.
Citizenship by naturalization can be achieved in three ways: legally living in Ireland for five years, getting married to or being in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen or applying on behalf of a minor, according to Ireland’s Department of Affairs. Citizenship by descent can occur in two ways: if one grandparent was born in Ireland or one parent was an Irish citizen at the time of a child’s birth, even if the parent was not born in Ireland.
Youmans recommends that students who are curious about citizenship in the country should consider looking into a work-holiday authorization before jumping into anything. She briefly discussed her own experience, suggesting that it was something she was very grateful for doing first before making any abrupt moves to the country.
“It gives you that four months to a year opportunity to go and see what it’s like if you’ll really enjoy living there, to see if you assimilate with the culture,” Youmans said “It gives a chance to explore different areas, and you’re not tied to being there if you don’t want to be.”
The attraction to the country has increased steadily with the influence of celebrities, social media influencers and overall media. Popular Youtuber and influencer Brittany Broski has expressed multiple times her desire to not only go to Ireland but to find an Irish man.
Broski’s influence and love of the Irish can be seen through her several YouTube videos dedicated to discussing both the country and its celebrities. Her love of the Irish eventually led her to get the chance to interview Irish singer/songwriter Hozier.
“I think TikTok allows people, like influencers or just anyone, to post aesthetically pleasing looks or portrayals of how it is studying abroad, but it doesn’t actually include the parts about really studying; it kind of romanticizes it and puts a good aesthetic behind so people want to travel there,” Hohnerlein said.
Shows like Derry Girls and music like The Cranberries have increased love for Irish culture, as well as a fascination with the country’s visitation. Despite the split between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, from the outside, Irish culture seems to stay united within the two regions.
