By Debbie McGoldrick

“I am an American by birth. However, I am of Irish decent and am very interested in applying for dual citizenship. I was told that this was not possible and I am confused as to why. I have family from the Isle of Man and I believe there are still some relatives that are in Dublin. Please advise as to if I can obtain citizenship for Ireland and keep my citizenship here in the United States. I want to eventually relocate to Ireland.”

This column dealt with a similar question in last week’s issue. The “Green Card” mailbag is actually filling up with Irish citizenship inquiries these days, so we’ll go through the basics one more time.

If you’re claiming Irish citizenship through relatives from the Isle of Man, you’ll be out of luck. Though the Isle is located in the Irish Sea and has Celtic origins, its natives are not entitled to automatic Irish citizenship.

Distant Irish cousins also won’t be of any help in your quest for citizenship. What it comes down to is this — the easiest way for non-natives to gain citizenship is through an Irish-born parent. The second easiest is through an Irish-born grandparent.

After that it gets tougher. The great-grandparent link is doable but complicated in that the grandparents in the chain must have been Irish citizens at the time of your birth.

Those moving to Ireland to seek employment through legal ways can also carve a path to naturalization. And those married to Irish citizens can also become naturalized, after a period of residency in Ireland.

There is lots of information on the subject at www.irelandemb.org, the website of the Irish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

If it ever becomes possible for you to obtain Irish citizenship, you will not lose your American citizenship.