ONLY 172 British people have applied for the Certificate of Irish Heritage since it became available in 2011.
The paltry figure is in keeping with a tiny world wide demand for the Certs which were made available to much fanfare in 2011.
In total just 2,500 people have bought the certificates which cost €40 unframed or €100 with a frame.
The Irish authenticity document was first proposed at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh in 2009.
It hoped to offer a sense of authenticity to members of the Diaspora worldwide who are not eligible for an Irish passport.
But despite a global marketing push in 2011 – which saw 700 people apply for a certificate, four per cent of whom were based in Britain – interest in the document has waned.
Government figures revealed this week show that FEXCO, the Killarney company responsible for creating and selling the certificates, have only issued 2,500 to date.
Applicants must have one Irish ancestor and be able to provide a document to show the relative was born in Ireland – such a census record or a birth certificate– in order to apply.
In March 2012 Maureen Fitzgibbon became the first community member to be awarded a Certificate of Irish Heritage in Britain.
The long-term organiser for the Catholic Family History Society received the prestigious certificate at Manchester’s Council of Irish Association’s annual dinner dance held at the Irish World Heritage Centre.
Earlier that year LOCOG Chairman Lord Seb Coe was presented with his own certificate by Irish President Michael D Higgins on a two-day visit to London ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
Other famous faces to be presented with the certificate include American Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and actor Tom Cruise.
A spokesperson form the Department of Foreign Affairs told The Irish Post: “With the vast majority of the global Diaspora not eligible for Irish citizenship, the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced to recognise descendants of previous generations of Irish citizens in an official way and to give greater practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world.
It is very clear from the positive reaction of those who have received a Certificate how much their heritage means to them. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to work with FEXCO (who operate the programme on our behalf) to promote the Certificate of Irish Heritage around the world.”
