
You can leave Ireland for up to 6 weeks (in total) per year and still be considered resident in that year.
During the 8 years before that, have had a total reckonable residence in the State of 1,460 days* (4 years). Have a period of 365 days* (1 year) continuous reckonable residence in the State immediately before the date of your application for naturalisation and. You must have lived in the State for a certain length of time. You may also be contacted by the Citizenship division at a later stage for further information about your history in the State. You are asked on the application form to declare any of the above and you are given the opportunity to explain the circumstances that led to the Garda or court action. Certain civil cases (for example, if you were subject to a barring order). Cautions or other warnings you have received from the Gardaí. Pending criminal cases (that haven’t been heard in court yet). Driving offences you may have committed. As part of this, the Minister receives information about: The Garda Síochána (Ireland's national police) provides a report about your background.
There is no exhaustive legal definition of what ‘good character’ means.
The parent of the child is a citizen by naturalisation – use Form 9.The child is of Irish descent or Irish associations – use Form 10.The child was born in Ireland after 1 January 2005 and did not qualify for citizenship by birth – use Form 11.To become an Irish citizen through naturalisation, you must meet the conditions that are set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended (pdf).