Londonderry on Irish passports

Brian Hutton
Thursday April 09 2009
IRISH passport-holders from Derry can now have their birthplace officially recorded as Londonderry after a surge in applications from loyalists in North.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin yesterday said the move was sparked by a number of representations from people who wanted their British identity respected.
Up until now, only Derry could be recorded on Irish passports for those born in the city or county with the historically contested name, while British passport applicants could record either name.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was unable to give numbers on how many people applied requesting Londonderry as their birthplace but insisted it was a rising trend.
"We don't keep records of numbers but it is something we decided to do because of an increase in applications from the loyalist community," a Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said yesterday.
Mr Martin said he was taking into account the Good Friday Agreement's provision to allow all people in Northern Ireland to identify themselves as Irish or British, or both, when making his decision.
"This decision carries no implications as regards the official or legal title of any political or geographic entity," added Mr Martin.
- Brian Hutton


is there any low this government won't sink to!

 

Will make much difference - how many of those that call Derry Londonderry will actually want an Irish passport in the first place.

It will always be Derry to me (one of my favourite places in Ireland) but if someone wants to get Londonderry on an Irish passport it wouldn't bother me.

Would it not be written in Irish and English anyway?

 

Why would someone go for an Irish passport and put Londonderry on it,if they want to keep their British identity why not get a British one?

I think its cheeky, I think they only want an irish passport to get as much out of both sides of the border.

 

did you not read the article?

they're putting londonderry on the passports because loyalists are asking for it in increasing numbers

and they could write it spanish and greek as well for all i care,i don't want the prefix london on anything issued by our state

 

exactly!

why do this?

we couldn't request a british passport as gaelige so why do this for them

 

I just dont see that this is as big a deal these days.

People have a choice, so what ?

 

* them. T-A-L

 

I dont see why loyalists,who are supposedly loyal to britain,the queen,the monarchy.....would want to have an irish passport in the first place.

 

Another pile of nonsence from that * Gregory Campbell who tries to outdo Paisley in the bigot stakes, trys to drag Celtic fans into everything thats wrong with his version of norn ireland, eg when asked about the death threats to Borac recently he answered " well what do you expect when they fly the Tricolour at Parkhead". If any of his ilk want an Irish passport with L/Derry on it then let them, it would make them puke to use it and tbh dont think any will just Campbell at it again * em!

 

haha i dont get it either im from derry and a cant think of any prods who would want this derry is about 80 85 % catholic and a dont think the other 15 % would want this but if thasts what they want it wouldnt bother me

 

Its Derry cheeky *

 

Agreed :bbpd:

 

Forgive my ignorance, but WHY are loyalists getting Irish passports in the first place? Not that I'm saying it's a bad thing...

 

If they get an irish passport.......surely it will tell them their nationality is Irish.

Give it to them then.

 

100% mate

 

its not the fact that loyalists are taking up irish citizenship that bothers me lads,i'm all for it


its the simple fact that the cities name is derry,the prefix london has been lawfully removed has it not?

you wouldn't get away with listing your home town as free belfast or free derry on a british passport now would you?

 

Ah right,well that is true,it is officially called Derry,so that should be on the passport,end of.

 

let the babies have their bottle, its little political correctness nit bits that really isn't going to effect anyone.
What I don't understand is if a loyalist wants an Irish passport, how would they get offended by Derry?

 

why dont the scumbags just geta british one