Nancy and Mike Quote from Wilkipedia: "The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 is an Act of the Oireachtas [Irish Parliament] whose primary provision is that the Republic of Ireland is the official description (and not name ) for Ireland. The Act formally abolished the remaining roles of the King of Ireland (a king shared with the United Kingdom) and the other Dominions of the Commonwealth) in the government of the state. The Act was enacted in both the Irish and English languages. It was signed by the President of Ireland on 21 December 1948 and came into force on 18 April 1949, the thirty-third [?] anniversary of the Proclamation of the original Irish Republic". "The British government responded to the Republic of Ireland Act by enacting the Ireland Act 1949, which provided that Irish citizens in the UK would not be treated as foreigners". Source: Wilkipedia Hence the Irish were able, and still are able, to vote in UK General Elections, a privilege which is not returned. And they did not need a passport to enter the UK. Can I just add a personal note. In general, the British, and particularly the English, have always held a strong affection for the Irish, both North and South, which continued throughout the IRA bombing campaigns on the UK mainland in the 1970s and later. In fact I suppose we tend to think of them as "one of us". We certainly don't think of them as foreigners. Perhaps it is because so many of us have "Irish grannies". Rhoda London, UK (Scottish born) >