Tánaiste happy with passport’s ruff design
THE Irish wolfhound has taken centre stage in a redesigned passport, after winning a public vote.
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has had a preview of the initial drawings for the new design, produced by Mayo artist and illustrator Denise Nestor.
The redesign is set to cost the Department of Foreign Affairs up to €550,000.
Mr Martin said: ‘It was important to see first-hand how the design team is transforming the public’s input into a coherent passport design.As well as seeing the initial designs, I was also delighted to meet Boánn, the majestic wolfhound who has inspired some of the intricate artwork that will feature in our next-generation passport.’
He continued: ‘The Irish wolfhound was the most popular animal chosen by the public in our recent public consultation, and will feature prominently in our new passport.
‘We share this island with a rich variety of plant life and a diverse range of animals and I look forward to seeing future design concepts as they progress.’
Mr Martin noted the Irish passport provides citizens with visa-free access to 192 countries. The image of the wolfhound will be layered with complex security techniques to combat fraudsters.
Wil Byrne, secure document designer at Bray-based security design specialists AG2, said: ‘The public’s insights, Ireland’s rich variety of flora and fauna, and a range of complex security features are all being incorporated into the new design. Our overall shared ambition is to ensure the Irish passport remains a world leader by creating the most secure and visually appealing passport for Irish citizens.’
Three-year-old Irish wolfhound Boánn takes her name from the legendary Goddess of the Boyne. Bred in Co. Meath, she is the ambassador of the breed for the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland. Irish Wolfhounds have been part of the culture and heritage of Ireland for thousands of years.
The existing passport book is now over ten years old. The upcoming redesign relates to the pages inside the passport book, so the burgundy cover with its national harp emblem will remain.
The country’s Passport Service has issued more than 200,000 passports to date in 2024.