Updating Birth Certificate

[BSunrider]

I have no idea which section I should post this in so apologies if it's in the wrong area. My father was Irish and therefore I am Irish by parentage and wish to be able to apply for my Irish passport. However my parents weren't married and he is not named on my birth certificate. He died a number of years ago and due to the strong religious aspects of being born out of wedlock in the 70's, I have never had any contact with his side of the family.

As I understand it I need to have him added to my birth certificate but he is deceased. What would be the process here? Is there anything I can do to enable me to apply for my passport that does not involve DNA testing?

[dslippy]

The process is not one you can follow here. It is Irish law.
In English Law, the certificate is merely a certified copy of an entry in the (English) register. A certified copy therefore would require alteration of an English entry.

[efpom]

If both of your parents were unmarried or not in a legal civil partnership but both are still alive, an application for rectification could have been made to add your father's name to your birth certificate, but as he is deceased, he cannot give his consent to that rectification by signing the application form.

I assume your birth certificate was issued by the UK government that you were not born in Northern Ireland and that there is no father's name on your birth certificate. (If you were born in Northern Ireland before 1st January 2005, please reply here.)

Irish citizenship Law is complex, but it is a certainty that one cannot prove the right to Irish citizenship, solely based on a DNA test.