Kiss Me, I'm Irish

I became shaoránach Éireannach, an Irish citizen. Had you told me this is where I would end up six years ago, I would not have believed you.

I moved to Ireland in May 2019 with no plan to settle. I was just passing through while waiting on my visa before making it to my final destination: San Francisco, California. Then the world closed down, and Ireland slowly opened itself up to me. One year became many. Somewhere between lockdown walks, canal cans, and learning about the Irish-language origins of place names, this island started to feel like home. Now, I am one of several thousand who made their way to Killarney, a postcard-perfect town in County Kerry in southwest Ireland, to take the oath of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State – the final step in becoming an Irish citizen.

For me, the process was straightforward and took just under 13 months. I submitted my application in May 2024. I was invited to complete an online Garda vetting request in November 2024. I received confirmation that the Minister for Justice intended to confer me with Irish citizenship at an upcoming citizenship ceremony in Killarney in May 2025. I attended the ceremony in June 2025. My certificate of naturalization arrived a month later. The sense of belonging, though, was there far longer.

Those to be conferred with Irish citizenship were welcomed at the Killarney Convention Centre at the Gleneagle Hotel. Officials with the Department of Justice witnessed candidates signing their written oaths of fidelity, handed out flag pins of the Irish tricolor, and a program booklet for the ceremony, before sending everyone into the hall where the ceremony would take place.

As people were finding their seats ahead of the ceremony, the No. 1 Army Band conducted by Captain Ben Jacob played pop tunes. The atmosphere was relaxed. I was seated between a lady from England to my right, and a lady from Nigeria to my left. Hundreds more seats filled with people from every corner of the world. The formal part of the ceremony began with the band playing the anthem of Europe. We were not asked to stand – a small disappointment for me, a convinced European.

Darragh Brennan, principal officer of the citizenship division in the Department of Justice, then welcomed everyone with a few opening remarks and introduced the Department of Defense’s Colour Party under the Command of Second Lieutenant Eoin Feeney. The Colour Party promptly entered stage right and marched toward a stage left position where they would stand at attention, like statues, for the remainder of the ceremony displaying the bratach na hÉireann, the flag of Ireland. The presence of the Colour Party gave the event a certain je ne sais quoi.

Mr. Brennan introduced Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and presiding officer Judge Paddy McMahon, then gave way to Deirdre Granville, who played “O’Carolan’s Welcome” on the harp.

Minister O’Callaghan gave a speech, thanking us for choosing Ireland as our home, and promising that Ireland would always be a home where we would be accepted, valued, cherished, celebrated, safe, and loved.

Harpist Deirdre Granville played “O’Carolan’s Concerto” as Minister O’Callaghan and Judge McMahon swapped positions at the podium.

Judge McMahon gave a short speech, and invited us to stand as he administered the oath of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State.

I, [Name] of [Address] having applied to the Minister for Justice for a certificate of naturalisation, hereby solemnly declare my fidelity to the Irish nation and my loyalty to the State. I undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.

After we had taken the oath, Judge McMahon officially conferred Irish citizenship on us, turning a room full of strangers into compatriots. Everyone remained standing as the No. 1 Army Band played the music of the Irish national anthem for this newest group of Irish citizens. There was no singing, although Minister O’Callaghan mouthed the words.

With the official business concluded, Minister O’Callaghan and Judge McMahon left the stage, followed by the Colour Party. Mr. Brennan took the stage once more for closing remarks, thanking the civil service for putting on the event, and commenting on the work that went into improving the citizenship application process. I can only concur. Thank you, and well done!

Iarnród Éireann, the Irish railway company, must have had the best few days of their year. On the return journey, every train car was filled with new Irish citizens, many proudly wearing a flag pin and carrying a story. That train ride back to Dublin marked a shared beginning of a story told in many accents.

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

TripleLift

Dublin, Ireland • Remote • Full-time

 - Vice President of Privacy | Jul 2025 - present

 - Senior Director of Privacy | Aug 2024 - Jul 2025

 - Director of Privacy | Oct 2022 - Jul 2024

Shopify

Dublin, Ireland • Remote • Full-time | 1 yr 6 mos

 - Associate General Counsel, Privacy | Apr 2022 - Oct 2022

 - Data Protection Officer | Nov 2021 - Oct 2022

 - Senior Legal Counsel, Privacy | May 2021 - Mar 2022

Quantcast

Dublin, Ireland • On-site • Full-time | 2 yrs

 - Head of Privacy | Apr 2020 - May 2021

 - Senior Privacy Counsel | May 2019 - Apr 2020

IAB Europe

Brussels, Belgium On-site • Full-time | 4 yrs

 - Director, Privacy & Public Policy | Jan 2018 - Apr 2019

 - Senior Manager, Privacy & Public Policy | Jan 2017 - Dec 2017

 - Public Policy Manager | Jan 2016 - Dec 2016

 - EU Affairs Coordinator | May 2015 - Dec 2015

Weber Shandwick

Brussels, Belgium • On-site • Full-time | 7 mos

 - Public Policy Intern | Sep 2014 - Mar 2015

European Parliament

Brussels, Belgium • On-site • Full-time | 4 mos

 - Intern of ALDE MEP | Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU

Brussels, Belgium • On-site • Full-time | 1 mo

 - Summer Intern | Jul 2010 - Jul 2010

Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht

Maastricht, Netherlands • On-site • Part-time | 8 mos

 - Customer Service Assistant | Nov 2009 - Jun 2010

Board Positions

Shopify International Limited

Director | Nov 2021 - Oct 2022

Network Advertising Initiative (NAI)

Board Member | Feb 2020 - May 2021

IAB Europe

Board Member | Jun 2019 - May 2021

EURid

Member of the Strategic Committee | Oct 2015 - Apr 2019

Education

Maastricht University

Master of Laws (LL.M.), European Law School
2013 - 2014

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), European Law School
2009 - 2013

Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna

Erasmus Exchange Program, Law
2011 - 2012

Licenses & Certifications

Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)
IAPP • Issued Jul 2017

Hello World

This is my first post on this website.

Biography

I am a technology executive and legal professional with over a decade of experience shaping privacy and public policy in the global digital economy. As Vice President of Privacy at TripleLift, I lead efforts to navigate complex regulatory environments while fostering responsible growth.

Originally from Germany, I spent over a decade living in various European countries before moving to Ireland in 2019, expecting to stay only temporarily before relocating to California. Charmed by Ireland’s people, history, and culture, I ultimately decided to stay long-term and became a citizen in 2025.

I hold a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Over the course of my career, I have held senior roles in leading technology companies and international trade associations, where I was responsible for global privacy programs and have both led and participated in collaborative efforts to develop widely used technical and policy frameworks that improve transparency and people’s choices around online advertising, working with industry leaders, regulators, and policymakers.

I see Ireland as a country full of possibilities and want to play a part in helping realize that potential.

Outside of work, I have eclectic interests ranging from heraldry and letterpress printing to animation and the arts. I enjoy exploring Ireland’s history, culture, and the stories behind its places. A lifelong animal lover, I currently serve as a “seeing-eye human” for a retired blind sheepdog.

Curriculum Vitae.

Headshot photo (courtesy of Dave Clark).

Heraldry

The art of heraldry captured my imagination from an early age. I vividly recall my first meaningful encounter with it: a collection of stamps showcasing the official coats of arms from Germany’s sixteen federal states, each one telling its own story through carefully chosen symbols and colors. This lifelong fascination led me to collaborate with Munich-based heraldic artist Ralf Burkert in 2018 to create my personal coat of arms. The design’s official description, known as the blazon, is documented in both German and English:

In German:

“In Blau unter drei goldenen fünfstrahligen Sternen ein silberner Flügel, der in einen Unterarm mit Handschelle und Kette ausläuft, in der Hand drei goldene Weizenähren mit Halm über sich haltend. Auf dem blau-silbern bewulsteten Helm mit rechts blau-silbernen und links blau-goldenen Decken ein naturfarbener Storch, in der erhobenen Rechten drei goldene Weizenähren mit Halm haltend.”

In English:

“Shield: Azure, a wing terminating in a hand Argent holding three wheat stalks fesswise reversed Or, bound at the wrist by a shackle with a broken chain proper, in chief three mullets Or.

Mantling: Azure doubled per pale Or and Argent.

Crest: A stork proper, holding in its dexter talon three wheat stalks Or.”

Since its creation, my coat of arms has been interpreted by various artists, each bringing their own unique perspective while adhering to the blazon’s specifications. One notable rendition is the emblazon created by heraldic artist Vadym Burla, shown below.

© 2023 Vadym Burla. All rights reserved.

In Germany, heraldic tradition takes a more democratic approach. Unlike some countries where heraldry is strictly regulated, Germany allows individuals the freedom to adopt their own coats of arms. Several respected organizations register armorial bearings in and maintain rolls of arms.

As of 7 June 2025, the coat of arms of the Matthiesen family is registered in the Deutsche Wappenrolle, a roll of arms maintained by the German heraldic association HEROLD in Berlin, under the registration number 12327/25. It is published in Volume 82 of the Deutsche Wappenrolle. It may be used by descendants of my great grandfather Christoph Theodor Matthiesen (1883-1956) insofar and as long as they still carry the family name Matthiesen.