each and every Irish citizen is entitled to hold a firearm cert, regardless their history, FACT.
Now it is up to the local super to put his head on the line for you, which I know for a fact that has happened before, if you can persuade him that you have been clean since you last conviction then you stand a chance of getting your cert.
Arrange a meeting with the local super prior to your application, explain to him what you would like to do, explain your past in detail to him and how far you have moved on with your life, be very honest with him from the start.
Believe me this approa