- Over half a million Irish passports were issued in the first half of 2026, according to figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Dublin issued the most passports with 93,223, followed by Cork with 35,257, Antrim with 17,986, Kildare with 17,571, and Galway with 16,543.
- Minister Helen McEntee launched the newly-designed Irish passport at the end of June.
- McEntee urged citizens to check passport expiry dates and use the online service for renewals.
- Galway is in the top five counties when it comes to the number of passports issued so far this year.
- 367,471 passports were issued in total on the island of Ireland, with over 50,000 passports issued in Northern Ireland.
- McEntee emphasized the importance of checking passports to avoid issues at the airport, stating, "To avoid turning up at the airport with an out-of-date passport, please check your passport is in date well in advance of your departure date and ideally before you book your flights."
Over half a million Irish passports were issued in the first half of 2026, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Dublin topped the list with 93,223 passports, followed by Cork with 35,257 and Antrim with 17,986.123
In total, 367,471 passports were issued on the island of Ireland, with over 50,000 passports distributed in Northern Ireland. Other notable counties included Kildare with 17,571 and Meath with 14,774.89
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee emphasized the importance of checking passport expiry dates, stating, “People are being urged to check the expiry dates on their passports, to make sure upcoming travel plans go smoothly.” She also highlighted that the quickest way to renew or apply for a passport is through the passport online service, which is available to all citizens worldwide. “In addition, anyone applying for a passport since the end of June this year will receive the newly designed passport book and card,” she added.456
Galway, with 16,543 passports issued, ranks fifth among counties, showcasing the demand for travel documents as citizens prepare for upcoming trips.7
“Dublin led with 93,223 passports, followed by Cork at 35,257 and Antrim at 17,986. Minister Helen McEntee launched a newly designed passport at the end of June, and applications since then receive the new version.”
Galway Bay FM
