The Cascarino effect – 100% spike in Google searches for ‘Irish passport’

IN the wake of Brexit, there has been a significant increase in the number of British people searching for information on how to get an Irish passport.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been warned to brace itself for the ‘Cascarino effect’ (after the English-born footballer Tony Cascarino, who qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland team because he had a grandparent who was a citizen) given the possibility that large numbers of British citizens with Irish grandparents will apply for Irish passports in the wake of Brexit. Fine Gael Senator, Neale Richmond said: ‘The result of the referendum was highly disappointing, sending the markets into turmoil and starting a wave of chaotic uncertainty that could grip Europe for the next two years.

‘Prior to the referendum, applications for Irish passports from UK residents had risen by over 40%; this included two of my cousins who are English born and bred, but with an Irish father.

‘I acknowledge that the Passport Office has already hired additional staff this year to cope with increased demand, but this may now need to be looked at again.

‘The recent increase in [the number of] British citizens with Irish grandparents applying for Irish passports could now move from a torrent to a flood,’ he said. ‘The ‘Cascarino effect’ is likely to put unprecedented pressure on the Passport Office at its busiest time.’

Google Trends tweeted a graphic yesterday showing a 100% spike in searches for ‘Irish passport’, beginning at around 4am as news trickled in of the referendum result. A significant number of the searches came from Northern Ireland.

People living in the North can apply for passports from Dublin, and search trends suggest that many are looking into obtaining them due to fears of the consequences of the Brexit vote.

Meanwhile, calls have been made for a referendum on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland following victory for the Leave side.