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Ryne D. Yates
Ms. Lynn Raymond
UWRT-ll03
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October 192015
Family History

When talking to my mom, I found out that Ireland is one ofthe countries that my family
came from. The flag is a mixture of three colors which are green, white, and orange. Each color
is lined in an even vertical pattern. The flag was first introduced in 1848 by Thomas Francis
Meagher, but did not become in usage until 1916. Each color of the flag also has a special
meaning behind. The green represents the Anglo-Norman and also the older Gaelic of the
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population. The orange represents the supporters of William of Orange. While the white
according to Meagher, "Signifies a lasting truce between the Orange and the Green and I trust
that beneath it folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in
heroic brotherhood." It is also stated in Article 7 of the Constitution of Ireland, "The National
Flag is the Tricolor of Green, White and Orange-I' ("Flag of Ireland")~
The official national anthem of Ireland is called the "Amrhan na bhFiann" also known as
The Soldier's Song. The anthem was composed by Peadar 0 Cearnaigh (Kearney) and Patrick
Heaney in 1907. Both were members of the Oliver Bond 1798 Club and wrote the song for it.
Kearney was the writer of the song while Heaney composed it. However, Ire)alld has many other
national anthems but the most commonly used is The Soldiers Songf.1Lyons) .,..
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To become a citizen oflreland there are three different requirements, but you only need
to meet one of the three. These three requirements are birth, marriage to an Irish citizen, and
residence. Each requirement has an exception to it however. For instance, birth can be of many

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things. First, if you are born in Ireland it makes you a citizen. Also, if you are born in another
country, as long as your father or mother is an Irish citizen born in Ireland you are considered a

citizen. If a grandparent was also Irish-born, with proof of the direct kinship you may also

become a citizen. Marriage can also be a reason to gain citizenship. As long as you and your
spouse have been married for at least three years, but your spouse has also been a citizen for at
least three years you are eligible for citizenship. The last requirement is to reside in Ireland. You
must be at least 18, lived in Ireland for five of the nine years, and satisfy the Minister of good
character. Also to satisfy the Minister they will live in Ireland after naturalization and make a

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formal declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the statf."("Irish CitizenshiV.s