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In depth
Bunreacht na hÉireann (Constitution of Ireland) is the fundamental law of Ireland, adopted by referendum in 1937. Article 2 of the Constitution defines the Irish nation as including all persons born on the island of Ireland, all persons of Irish descent, and all persons entitled to Irish citizenship.
Article 2 was amended by referendum in 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement, removing the territorial claim to Northern Ireland and replacing it with a commitment to unity by consent.
The Constitution is the supreme law of Ireland — any law inconsistent with it is void to the extent of the inconsistency. Citizenship legislation (the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956) must comply with the Constitution.
Related terms
The Good Friday Agreement (1998) is the peace accord that confirms the right of people in Northern Ireland to identify as Irish, British, or both, and to hold citizenship accordingly.
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, is the principal Irish citizenship law that governs the Foreign Births Register and other paths to Irish citizenship.
The Foreign Births Register (FBR) is the official record maintained by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs of people born outside Ireland who are entitled to Irish citizenship by descent.
The grandparent rule is the most common path to Irish citizenship by descent: having one grandparent born on the island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland) qualifies you for the Foreign Births Register.
The GRO (General Register Office) is the Irish government office that maintains records of births, deaths, marriages, and civil partnerships in the Republic of Ireland.
GRONI (General Register Office Northern Ireland) is the government office that maintains vital records for Northern Ireland, equivalent to the GRO in the Republic.