In other news (sort of citizenship-related), after a few weeks of being sans passport, I finally received my nice, shiny new one last week and decided to have a proper look/read through it (does anyone actually do that?) as the design has changed. The current design was introduced towards the end of 2013, it seems, but some of the inclusions in this new document are interesting.
On the page opposite the photo page, there's now a topographical depiction of the entire island of Ireland (Tom Elliott wasn't a fan) with accompanying text from Article 2 of an Bunreacht na hÉireann, as Gaeilge agus as Béarla:
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...psa3751ccb.jpg
GR might wish to write to the Passport Office in Dublin to have them update future versions with a clause-laden asterisk after that! :P
There are also some charming cultural prints to be found on the visa pages.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9f30d5c8.jpg
An Grianan of Aileach, which is an old stone ring-fort atop a hill at the gateway to the Inishowen peninsula just two minutes up the road from my family home, is depicted, so it's nice to have that reminder of the familial locality in there. Some claim you can see Scotland from An Grianan on a clear, sunny day, although I think that sounds a bit dubious, to be honest; everyone knows there are no such things as clear, sunny days in Ireland.
Most intriguing of all, however, is the inclusion of a wee bit of Ulster-Scots verse in there by James Orr:
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc581d64d.jpg
The hedge-hauntin' blackbird, on ae fit whyles restin'
Wad fain heat the tither in storm-rufflet wing
I hadn't heard of him before, but, believe it or not, Orr was a Presbyterian of Scottish descent from Ballycarry in Antrim and participated in the 1798 rebellion as a member of the United Irishmen.