evidence: It is true that the number of people born in the Republic of Ireland and living in England and Wales in 2021 at 324,670 marks a decrease of over 82,687 (or around 20%) compared to the 2011 Census. Likewise, the number of those born in Northern Ireland went from 214,988 to 198,344. This significant change has occurred against an overall increase of the non-UK born population, which has risen from 7.5 million in 2011 to 10 million in 2021 (+33%). [...] But focusing only on data about 'country of birth' can lead to a simplistic reading of the wider picture. When you bring together also the statistics on citizenship, national identity, and ethnicity, new layers are added to the story. Take, for example, the Census data on ‘passport held’. In 2021, there were 364,725 people living in England and Wales and holding a passport issued by the Republic of Ireland. This number represents only a very small reduction (-2.1%) when compared to the 2011 Census (372,389) and is nearly compensating the reduction of those who are Irish ‘by birth’. A Brexit effect seems to be at play here, where people who previously held a British passport have applied for an Irish one, thanks to family links. Even ahead of the 2016 UK referendum to leave the EU, Ireland's Department for Foreign Affairs had reported unprecedented numbers of applications. A pragmatic choice, maybe, but it has also represented an occasion for many to embrace their Irish heritage in the post-Brexit landscape.