{"id":46935,"date":"2025-09-27T14:44:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T14:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/46935\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T14:44:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T14:44:07","slug":"look-out-ireland-british-tv-star-the-latest-to-embrace-irish-roots-in-bid-for-passport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/46935\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Look out Ireland\u2019 – British TV star the latest to embrace Irish roots in bid for passport"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Irish<\/a> passport has become one of the most sought-after travel documents in the world, and the latest British celebrity has proudly revealed they’ve joined the ranks.<\/p>\n

In global passport power rankings, Ireland<\/a> consistently sits near the top, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 190 countries. That puts it well ahead of the UK, which slipped in recent years post-Brexit.<\/p>\n

For many, the little burgundy booklet has become a golden ticket back into the EU, and a direct route to easier travel, work and residency across Europe.<\/p>\n

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Now, TV personality Louie Spence has revealed he’s the latest to reclaim his Irish heritage, telling his 259,000 Instagram<\/a> followers on Thursday that he’s successfully obtained an Irish passport thanks to his grandmother’s Belfast roots.<\/p>\n

Holding the passport up to the camera, he shrieked with excitement: “I’ve got my Irish passport. I’m back in Europe and I’m so excited.”<\/p>\n

The former Pineapple Dance Studios star admitted many people told him he wouldn’t be eligible because his grandmother was born in Belfast.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know if you remember last year, I was talking about trying to get an Irish passport because my nan was Irish, but she was from Belfast.<\/p>\n

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“I thought, well, can I, and lots of people said you can’t, because obviously Belfast is part of the UK. Well, see\u2026 I’ve got my Irish passport,” he said.<\/p>\n

Spence explained that Brexit was a big motivator.<\/p>\n

“I never understood Brexit myself anyway. I haven’t really seen any of the benefits that they said we were going to get from it. I like being part of a bigger community, so I’m so happy that I’m back in Europe.”<\/p>\n

Complimenting the ease of the process, he said it took about a year.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

“You have to register your birth first, you have to become a citizen, and then you can send off for the passport. But I did send off not enough paperwork so it was delayed by about three weeks.<\/p>\n

“Any problems I had, I just rang the passport office – they were so helpful. The Irish were so helpful, efficient.”<\/p>\n

With a Spanish husband and a house abroad, Spence said the move makes travel far easier. But he also promised more time in Ireland: “So yes, look out Ireland, I’m going to be coming over – because I’m Irish. Very excited.”<\/p>\n

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