SIMPLY Red star Mick Hucknall has shared his joy after securing an Irish passport. 

The UK-born singer, who has Offaly roots, posted a snap of his new passport on the band’s Twitter account with the caption: “Freedom” alongside a love heart and a shamrock emoji.  

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Fans of the singer, who recently revealed his battle with Long Covid, were quick to congratulate him on receiving the passport. 

One said: “Good man Mick, I know you’re fond of fishing up the Ballybofey direction, you are MOST welcome.”

Another wrote: “Welcome Home! #Ireland”

Hucknall – who was a strong opposer of Brexit – spends most of his time in England where he lives with his partner Gabriella Wesberry, and their young daughter Romy. 

But the Manchester-born crooner also owns a sprawling Donegal estate, which he put up for sale back in 2019 before taking it off the market again. 

And judging by his post on Twitter, it seems the singer may be looking to spend more time on the Emerald Isle. 

He’s not the only celebrity who holds an Irish passport. 

Here we take a look at some of the biggest names in showbiz who hold one – despite growing up abroad. 

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JOE LO TRUGLIO

BROOKLYN Nine-Nine star Joe Lo Truglio is the proud owner of an Irish passport after applying for the official travel document back in 2016. 

The US actor’s maternal granddad was born in Cork, making him eligible. 

Speaking to the Irish Sun back in 2020, he said: “It’s quite strange to have an Irish passport that says Lo Truglio.

“My mom’s dad, my grandad was from there, born in Cork, Inniscarra near there, and I actually had been pursuing citizenship even before the presidency here.

“It wasn’t quite an escape plan although now I guess it can be.”

The actor visited Ireland for his stag in 2014 with Hollywood pals Paul Rudd and Peter Dinklage.

Pictures showed the lads drinking Guinness and whiskey, singing and enjoying being tourists.

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MIA FARROW

AMERICAN actress Mia Farrow plans to move to Ireland following her retirement. 

The See No Evil star Tweeted back in 2018: “On a micro level, I have decided to retire and will be moving to the west of Ireland.”

But when asked where, she appears to not be aware of the geography as she replied: “Maybe Donegal. Not too far from Cork.”

In the streams of replies, Mia added that she has heritage here and an Irish passport.

The American native, who is the daughter of the director John Farrow and the actress and Tarzan-girl Maureen O’Sullivan,  said: “My family is in Ireland – my mum was born there. I have an Irish passport.”

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OLIVIA WILDE

American actress Olivia Wilde, 38, also holds an Irish passport. 

Her father Andrew Cockburn was born in London but grew up in County Cork and became an Irish citizen later in life, making Wilde also eligible. 

The O.C actress spent her childhood summers in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, which she says ‘shaped’ the person she became. 

She said: “A lot of my growth as a child and a lot of my happiness with the people I was surrounded by in Ireland.”

The actress also studied her craft at Dublin’s Gaiety School and took her stage name from Irish literary giant Oscar Wilde.

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MISCHA BARTON

Actress Mischa Barton was born to an Irish mother in Nuala Quinn, and her maternal grandfather was an Irish language professor at Queen’s University Belfast.

Despite growing up mostly in the US, Barton, 36, once said: “I’m an English-Irish girl who grew up in New York City and who moved around a lot with her dad’s job.”

Barton was ‘heartbroken’ after she took her Irish mum to court back in 2015 for ‘misappropriation of earnings.’ 

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JIMMY CARR

Comedian Jimmy Carr was born in London to Irish parents Patrick and Nora Mary Carr.

“I go back to Ireland a lot and play a lot of gigs over there. I’m quite proud. I’ve got an Irish passport.

“When I was growing up I was very aware of being in an immigrant family,” Carr said on Desert Island Discs in 2017.

In 2013 he was presented with a certificate of Irish Heritage as he prepared for a performance in his parent’s home city of Limerick.

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KATHERINE RYAN

Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan also holds an Irish passport, having been born and raised in Canada to a father from Cork.

She proudly displayed her passport in a tweet back in 2018 to prove she could vote in the historic Eighth Amendment referendum after a troll told her to keep her ‘nose out of Ireland’s politics.’

She replied with a snap of her holding the travel document, with the caption: ‘Keep your nose out of my d***’.