McMother,
Dia dhuit! Most exciting news of the day, week, month, year? I'm eligible to become a citizen of Ireland. And who else do I have to thank but you, you, you!
As it turns out, a few others deserve mentioning. Kevin Michael, your father, was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1922. I remember quite clearly "reading" him stories and mussing his hair when he lived with us. He's been dead twenty years and I'm sure he never would have guessed at the enormous gift he's about to give me.
I hope he'd be as excited as I am.
the new Irish immigrants, Bronx, circa 1940
... Grandma is on the bottom right.
Here's a rundown of the steps I've taken so far:
1. Realizing eligibility. Since my grandfather was Irish, I'm legally entitled to "become" Irish as well. Information about what's needed can be found here and here. I suppose I could have realized this at any moment, but I prefer to think the Universe has an altogether different sense of time from the beings who inhabit her, making now the perfect moment.
2. Pursuing the documents. Since my Dear Mom never registered her birth in the Foreign Births Register, I now have to amass loads of documents, some of them from Ireland, including:
- Full civil birth certificate
- Civil marriage certificate (if applicable);
- Copy of current passport or identity document, if alive, or death certificate;
Each of these must be presented for my grandfather, my mother and I.
UPDATE: Grandpa's birth certificate has just arrived from Ireland! I opted to mail in a request form, because requesting the document online was crazy expensive! This way, it only cost me TEN EURO and was delivered in less than a week. Here's the moment I received it:
3. Going online. With Vitalchek and a little help from Mom, I was able to track down Grandpa's death certificate in less than an hour. While I was at it, I also ordered copies of my birth certificate and my mother's. Total cost: less than $100.
4. Future steps. Almost all the documents are ready. When I come back to America in August, the final dossier will be prepared. It's a little more elaborate, but considering what I stand to gain, the effort is unquestionably worthwhile.
So, Dear Mom, this has me thinking about the incredible reach of generations. As a third generation American, I never paid much mind to roots. That's changed; my desire to explore them is stronger than ever.
4. Future steps. Almost all the documents are ready. When I come back to America in August, the final dossier will be prepared. It's a little more elaborate, but considering what I stand to gain, the effort is unquestionably worthwhile.
So, Dear Mom, this has me thinking about the incredible reach of generations. As a third generation American, I never paid much mind to roots. That's changed; my desire to explore them is stronger than ever.
It also has me thinking about reversal of fortune. Your father emigrated, as so many did and do, hoping for a new and better life. To escape famine and later, the spectre of Europe's Great War. And the experiment worked. The American McManuses and Walshes went on to attend college, to have great families, to affect positive changes in the world.
Nearly a hundred years later, I'm seeking to do the same. The reasons may not be identical, but they're not entirely different, either.
And don't worry, Dear Mom! I promise to come home and visit, no matter where in the world I end up.
Until next time,
Gina
And don't worry, Dear Mom! I promise to come home and visit, no matter where in the world I end up.
Until next time,
Gina
