Brexit: How the Irish border became the biggest fight for EU and Britain

With Brexit drawing closer, Noeleen Hayes decided it was time to get her two sons Irish passports. Living in Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, the 42-year-old spent about 300 euros ($337) applying for Irish citizenship for her boys, aged 11 and 12, in part to secure European Union benefits like lower university fees and health care. Under a 1998 peace deal, Northern Ireland’s 1.8 million people are entitled to an Irish passport, a British passport or both.

“This is to hopefully retain their rights as Irish passport holders and EU citizens, to work and study anywhere in Europe or in Ireland,”