Tax issues force British actor to rethink Irish passport application

18 Feb 2026 • 8:10 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • British actor Jeremy Irons' attempt to secure an Irish passport has been unsuccessful due to significant financial implications concerning his tax situation.
  • Irons, who has been married to Irish actor Sinéad Cusack since 1978 and owns Kilcoe Castle in County Cork, had previously expressed a desire for Irish citizenship.
  • Sinéad Cusack revealed that the process would require a 'very extreme rethink of all his tax situations,' leading him to abandon the application.
  • Following Brexit, there has been a record increase in UK residents applying for Irish passports, with 242,772 applications in 2024.
  • Irons' adult children, Samuel and Max, are eligible for Irish passports through their mother, Sinéad Cusack, who is fully Irish.

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