The newly-designed Irish passports have been officially launched by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.
The passport features images of iconic Irish landmarks including the Croagh Patrick, Kylemore Abbey and Croke Park. There will also be drawings depicting Irish music and dance and Gaelic games. All Irish passports issued from October 3rd will have this new design.
The new book contains enhanced security to stop forgery with Ogham characters reacting to heat and images only visible with a special lens that border control will have.
A look inside the newly designed passports
Mr. Gilmore said "We have combined the latest security technology with selected imagery in order to produce a passport which represents Ireland – our culture, our history, and our people".
"Today, Irish passport holders travel more often and to more destinations than at any time in the past. In 2012, we issued over 600,000 passports to Irish citizens around the world. I would urge Irish citizens to check the validity of their current passport and to apply for a new book well in advance of any travel" he added.
The Aviva stadium featured on pages 20 and 21 of the newly designed passports
The images used range from a perspective of the Cliffs of Moher to the new landscape along the river Liffey, with the Dublin Convention Centre to the foreground and the Custom House and Liberty Hall.
The passport also features poems from three Irish poets: Nuala ní Dhomhnaill, William Butler Yeats, and James Orr.
More than 630,000 passports issued in 2012 - of which about 350,000 issued to adults - and 67% of all passport applications were received through the Passport Express channel.
Ogham details inside the newly designed passports
The Department of Foreign Affairs says almost 53,000 applications were received through the London Passport Office, the highest number outside the State. After London, the highest number was issued in Canberra - 5,600 passports, followed by 5,300 by the Consulate General in New York.
July was the busiest month last year, with 78,000 passports issued - while December was the quietest with just over 20,000.
