FORMER American TV boss Bob Miller was overjoyed to receive his Irish citizenship in Killarney earlier this month.

‘Ever since we bought our home here 24 years ago, becoming an Irish citizen has been a constant but distant dream,’ said Bob whose home is located at the further reaches of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula.

‘I have been so fortunate in my life with numerous hallmark events that I will treasure forever,’ he told The Southern Star. ‘Among them was marrying Pam Hoffman, raising two remarkable children, Wyatt and Rebecca, and having two equally remarkable grandchildren.

‘But​, Monday at the INEC in Killarney, will go down as one of those once in a lifetime highlights,’ said Bob, who was one of more than 5,000 people conferred with Irish citizenship at six ceremonies over a two-day period.

‘Coming to Ireland started out as a whim: 24-years-ago we came up with the idea of living somewhere outside of the United States and it was a bit like throwing a dart at a board.

‘How we ended up on this beautiful Sheep’s Head Peninsula was the miracle of miracles,’ said Bob, who relayed how every one of their vacations since 2002 was spent at their home at the very tip of the peninsula.

The couple moved to Ireland full-time eight years ago, which allowed Bob to get really involved in the local community by becoming chairman of Kilcrohane National School Board of Management, chairman of Muintir Bháire Community Alert, secretary of Kilcrohane Business Development Association, a board member of the Community Council, a member of the Men’s Shed, and a founding member of the local Green Community Initiative.

Bob, who still retains his American citizenship, has already been celebrating locally and plans to repeat the celebrations in his native Wisconsin when he returns for Christmas.

Bob said he is loving the fact that everyone is being so nice about him becoming a citizen, and seem so genuinely happy for him.

There were, of course, a lot of formalities, lots of hoops to jump through, many of which would test the patience of a saint​, but Bob met all of the criteria including the one about not being outside of Ireland for more than 70 days in a year.

As it turns out, Pam had been gone too many days visiting the grandkids, but she’ll try again.

In recent years, Bob came to the attention of Hector Ó hEochagáin, who interviewed him for a TG4 programme called Éire Nua’ about people relocating to Ireland.

As the former head of the WKOW-TV station and a former mayor of Monona in Wisconsin, Bob happily told the nation: ‘We picked the Sheep’s Head because of the incredible scenery and the friendly people.

‘I recall that Hector was curious about why we ended up in such a secluded area. I told him there was no better place to live, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic because of the seclusion and the beauty.’

Bob actually grew up on an American Indian reservation. His dad, a carpenter, relocated to the forests and lakes of northern Wisconsin for work. 

Bob says there is no similarity between the two places other than the remoteness, which allowed him ‘a return to rural life.’

Applicants from 132 countries and across all 32 counties made a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the state before the presiding officer Judge Paddy McMahon at the six ceremonies on Monday and Tuesday.

Since the citizenship ceremonies were first held in 2011, an estimated 222,000 people from over 180 countries received certificates of naturalisation at a total of 216 ceremonies.

Applicants from India make up over 20% of those attending the latest ceremonies (1,188), followed by applicants from Brazil (572), Romania (462), the United Kingdom (416), Poland (382), Philippines (271), South Africa (199), Pakistan (186), Nigeria (176) and China, including Hong Kong (154).

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said 53% of the applicants reside in County Dublin, followed by 12% in County Cork, 9% in County Kildare and 6% in County Meath, with less than 0.1% in counties Fermanagh and Tyrone.