Are historical Passport applications available?

Question

I hope someone is able to help me. If someone was born in pre-independence Ireland. What type of passport did they receive after independence? Was it British or Irish? Also where would you be able to access the application forms for said passports. As I am of the opinion that there may be some valuable genealogy information contained in them.

Comments

Thanks John for asking a good question.
I have learnt a lot from the answers.

Answer 1

The UK National Archives has a guide to UK passport records. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/passports/  This would presumably cover Ireland before independence. Summary: there aren't many but you might be lucky.

Answer 2

Anyone born in Ireland before 1922 could request a British passport, even after independence when they would also be equally entitled to apply for an Irish passport. If they were born in Northern Ireland they are still entitled to a British passport. The UK still has special provisions for citizens of Ireland. (Cannot let go!) For instance, they can vote in the UK.

Worth pointing out that passports were not compulsory for travellers until about 1920 when the League of Nations became active.