Freedom of the City of Dublin

The Freedom of the City of Dublin is awarded by Dublin City Council after approving a person nominated by the Lord Mayor. Eighty-two people have been honoured under the current process introduced in 1876. Most honourees have made a contribution to the life of the city or of Ireland in general, including politicians, public servants, humanitarians, artists and entertainers; others were distinguished members of the Irish diaspora and foreign leaders, honoured visiting Dublin. Honourees sign the roll of freedmen in a ceremony at City Hall or the Mansion House and are presented with an illuminated scroll by the Lord Mayor.

Ancient privileges and duties

In ancient boroughs such as Dublin, a royal charter established the privileges of the "burgesses" (or "citizens" in places like Dublin with city status). Admission as a freeman or citizen was principally granted to members of the Guilds of the City of Dublin and others by "special grace", as well as by marriage or descent from existing citizens. The wealthy could buy freedom by paying a "fine", and some of the penal laws facilitated Protestant immigrants' becoming freemen.[1][2]

Ancient charters were superseded for municipal governance purposes by the Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 and for all other non-ceremonial purposes by the Local Government Act 2001.[3] Nevertheless, ancient privileges and duties of freemen are sometimes cited in relation to the modern award. Rights included:[4]

Freedmen had a duty to defend the city and could be called into the militia at short notice.[4] In 1454, apprentices to be admitted freemen needed a bow and sword, while merchants additionally needed a coat of mail and helmet.[7][8]

Honorary Freedom

While the Representation of the People Act 1918 abolished the franchise rights of freemen, the Municipal Privileges Ireland Act 1876 allowed the establishment of the title of "Honorary Freemen".[1] This was retained by Local Government Act 1991[9] and currently the Local Government Act 2001.[1][10]

Recipients of the Freedom of Dublin since the Municipal Privileges Ireland Act 1876[11]
No.
[fn 1]		 NameResolutionSignatureCountry[fn 2]FieldNotes
1Isaac Butt 4 September 187616 October 1876IrelandPolitics
2William Ewart Gladstone 1 November 18777 November 1877EnglandPolitics
3Ulysses S. Grant 30 December 18783 January 1879United StatesPolitics / MilitaryFormer President and General in the Union Army
4Edward Eells Potter26 April 18804 May 1880United StatesDiplomacy / MilitaryUnited States Navy Commander; captained the USS Constellation carrying relief aid for the 1879 Irish famine.[13]
5Charles Stewart Parnell 3 January 188216 August 1882IrelandPolitics
6John Dillon 3 January 188216 August 1882IrelandPolitics
7Kevin Izod O'Doherty 10 August 18851 September 1885Ireland / AustraliaPoliticsHad just returned from Australia to contest North Meath in the November general election.
8Patrick A. Collins 22 July 18872 August 1887United StatesPolitics
9William O'Brien 22 July 18872 August 1887IrelandPolitics
9aTimothy Daniel Sullivan 10 December 188724 October 1893IrelandPolitics
9bThomas Sexton 28 December 1887 Did not sign rollIrelandPolitics
10George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon 16 January 18882 February 1888EnglandPoliticsFor supporting the First Home Rule Bill[14][15]
11John Morley 16 January 18882 February 1888EnglandPoliticsFor supporting the First Home Rule Bill as Chief Secretary for Ireland[14]
12Patrick F. Moran 1 October 18884 October 1888Ireland / AustraliaReligion: CatholicCardinal, Archbishop of Sydney
13Margaret Sandhurst 19 September 188920 September 1889EnglandActivism / PoliticsSuffragist who had just had her election to London County Council overturned.[16]
14James Stansfeld 19 September 188920 September 1889EnglandPolitics / ActivismRadical MP and suffragist
15George Salmon 14 March 189230 June 1892IrelandEducation / Religion: Church of IrelandProvost of Trinity College Dublin during its tercentenary
16Stuart Knill 23 December 18922 January 1893EnglandPoliticsThen Lord Mayor of London. of the Knill baronets.
17John Redmond 18 December 19013 April 1902IrelandPolitics
18Patrick Aloysius McHugh 30 October 19013 April 1902IrelandPolitics
19Douglas Hyde 29 June 19067 August 1906IrelandCulture: Irish languageUnder his pen name An Craoibhín Aoibhín
20Emanuel Spencer Harty 2 September 1907 Did not sign rollIrelandPublic service: civil engineeringDublin City Engineer[17]
20aHugh Lane 10 February 1908 Did not sign rollIreland (Dublin) / EnglandCulture: art : collectorHad established the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art
21Richard Croker 1 July 190724 August 1908United StatesPoliticsTammany Hall boss
22Edward O'Meagher Condon 28 September 19094 October 1909IrelandActivismCo-accused of the Manchester Martyrs
23Charles Cameron 30 September 191020 February 1911Ireland (Dublin)Public service: medicine
24Kuno Meyer 18 July 191122 April 1912GermanyCulture: Irish languageExpunged 15 March 1915 due to anti-German feeling in World War I; restored 19 April 1920.[18]
25Peadar Ua Laoghaire 18 July 191122 April 1912IrelandCulture: Irish languagePriest
25aDaniel Mannix 5 August 1920 Did not sign rollAustralia / IrelandReligion: CatholicArchbishop of Melbourne
26John McCormack 3 September 19236 September 1923Ireland / United StatesCulture: music
27Ehrenfried Günther Freiherr von Hünefeld 30 June 19283 July 1928GermanyAviationBremen transatlantic aircraft owner
28Hermann Köhl 30 June 19283 July 1928GermanyAviationBremen transatlantic aircraft pilot
29James Fitzmaurice 30 June 19283 July 1928United StatesAviationBremen transatlantic aircraft navigator
30Frank B. Kellogg 25 August 192830 August 1928United StatesPolitics / DiplomacyUnited States Secretary of State who had recently instigated the Kellogg–Briand Pact
31Lorenzo Lauri 2 May 193227 June 1932ItalyReligion: CatholicCardinal, papal legate during 1932 Eucharistic Congress in Dublin
32John Lavery 12 August 193517 September 1935Ireland / EnglandCulture: art : painter
33John Purser Griffith 4 May 19368 June 1936IrelandPublic service: civil engineering
34George Bernard Shaw 4 March 194628 August 1946Ireland / EnglandCulture: literature / drama
35Richard Cushing 16 September 194916 September 1949United StatesReligion: CatholicCardinal, Archbishop of Boston
36Paul A. Dever 16 September 194916 September 1949United StatesPoliticsGovernor of Massachusetts
37Seán T. O'Kelly 4 May 19532 June 1953IrelandDiplomacyThen President of Ireland
38John D'Alton 4 May 19532 June 1953IrelandReligion: CatholicCardinal Archbishop of Armagh
39Gerald O'Hara 12 July 195427 July 1954United StatesReligion: CatholicApostolic Nuncio to Ireland
44[fn 1]Chester Beatty 7 November 195526 July 1956United States / Ireland (Dublin)Culture: art : collector
45John Norton (bishop)11 August 195828 October 1958AustraliaReligion: CatholicBishop of Bathurst
46Grégoire-Pierre Agagianian 1 May 196122 June 1961ArmeniaReligion: Catholic: ArmenianCardinal, papal legate for the Patrician Year Congress held at Croke Park.[19]
47Michael Browne 16 July 196223 August 1962IrelandReligion: CatholicCardinal, former Master General of the Dominican Order; received freedom of Limerick[20] and Drogheda[21] on the same trip to Ireland.
48John F. Kennedy 27 May 196328 June 1963United StatesPolitics / DiplomacyDuring state visit to Ireland
49Hilton Edwards 11 June 197322 June 1973England / Ireland (Dublin)Culture: dramaCo-founder of the Gate Theatre
50Micheál Mac Liammóir 11 June 197322 June 1973England / Ireland (Dublin)Culture: dramaCo-founder of the Gate Theatre
51Éamon de Valera 3 February 19757 March 1975IrelandPolitics / DiplomacyFormer Taoiseach and President
52John A. Costello 3 February 19757 March 1975Ireland (Dublin)PoliticsFormer Taoiseach, alternately with de Valera
53Pope John Paul II 24 September 197929 September 1979Poland / VaticanReligion: Catholic / DiplomacyDuring official visit
54Noel Purcell 22 June 198428 June 1984Ireland (Dublin)Culture: dramaActor
55Maureen Potter 22 June 198428 June 1984Ireland (Dublin)Culture: dramaActress
56Akihito 20 February 19854 March 1985JapanDiplomacyThen Crown Prince, during official visit[22]
57Michiko 20 February 19854 March 1985JapanDiplomacyThen Crown Princess, during official visit[22]
58Stephen Roche 28 September 198729 September 1987Ireland (Dublin)Sport: cyclingAfter winning 1987 Tour de France
59Nelson Mandela 18 July 19881 July 1990South AfricaActivismAwarded on 70th birthday, while in prison; enrolled by proxy by Oliver Tambo on 21 September 1988; signed in person after his release.[12][23][24]
60Patrick Hillery 4 March 199122 April 1991IrelandDiplomacyFormer President of Ireland
61Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1 February 19932 June 1993Albania / IndiaReligion: Catholic / Activism
62Jack Charlton 11 April 199426 May 1994EnglandSport: soccerThen manager of the Republic of Ireland national team
63Bill Clinton 6 November 19951 December 1995United StatesPolitics / DiplomacyDuring official visit during the Northern Ireland peace process
64Gay Byrne 12 April 199911 May 1999Ireland (Dublin)Culture: broadcasting
65Aung San Suu Kyi 1 November 199918 June 2012BurmaActivismGranted in 1999 while she was under house arrest, Suu Kyi signed for her award in 2012 during a visit to Ireland.[25] The Council voted 59–2 (with one abstention) to revoke her award on 13 December 2017 over human rights abuses against the Rohingya people in Myanmar.[26][27]
66Paul McGuinness 1 November 199918 March 2000Ireland (Dublin)Culture: musicU2 manager
67The Edge 1 November 199918 March 2000Ireland (Dublin) / WalesCulture: musicU2 member
68Larry Mullen Jr. 1 November 199918 March 2000Ireland (Dublin)Culture: musicU2 member
69Adam Clayton 1 November 199918 March 2000Ireland (Dublin) / EnglandCulture: musicU2 member
70Bono 1 November 199918 March 2000Ireland (Dublin)Culture: musicU2 member
71Mikhail Gorbachev 3 December 20019 January 2002RussiaPolitics / Diplomacy / Activism
72Kevin Heffernan 1 March 200417 May 2004Ireland (Dublin)Sport: Gaelic footballPlayer and manager of the Dublin intercounty team
73Ronnie Delany 5 September 20055 March 2006Ireland (Dublin)Sport: athleticsWon the 1956 Olympic 1500 m[28]
74Bob Geldof 5 September 20055 March 2006Ireland (Dublin)Activist / Culture: musicLive Aid organiser and Boomtown Rats lead singer[28]
Geldof returned his award in November 2017 in protest over Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi also holding the accolade, stating that he does not "wish to be associated in any way with an individual currently engaged in the mass ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people of north-west Burma".[29] Suu Kyi's award was revoked by the Council about a month later, though Lord Mayor Mícheál Mac Donncha denied the decision was influenced by protests by Geldof and members of U2.[26][27] At the same meeting, the Councillors voted 37–7 (with 5 abstentions) to remove Geldof's name from the Roll of Honorary Freemen.[26][30]
75Thomas Kinsella 5 February 200724 May 2007Ireland (Dublin)Culture: literature : poetry
76Louis le Brocquy 5 February 200724 May 2007Ireland (Dublin)Culture: art : painter
77Peter McVerry 4 November 201322 March 2014Ireland (Dublin)Activism / Religion: CatholicJesuit homeless campaigner[31]
78Brian O'Driscoll 4 November 201322 March 2014Ireland (Dublin)Sport: rugby unionCaptain of the Ireland national team[31]
79Kevin Crowley 1 September 201428 February 2015Ireland (Dublin)Activism / Religion: CatholicCapuchin homeless campaigner
80Johnny Giles 1 September 201428 February 2015Ireland (Dublin)Sport: soccerFormer captain and manager of the Republic of Ireland national team
81Barack Obama
Michelle Obama		7 February 2017Did not sign rollUnited StatesPoliticsFormer President of the United States of America; for "moderating and progressive" influence on the world stage.[32]
Former First Lady of the United States of America; for work for the education of girls around the world and on behalf of refugees.[32]
82Jim Gavin (footballer)23 September 201918 January 2020Ireland (Dublin)Sport: Gaelic footballFootball manager of the senior Dublin county team from 2012 to 2019, becoming the county's most successful manager in terms of major titles won.[33]
83Tony Holohan6 July 202019 June 2021Ireland (Dublin)Public service: medicineChief Medical Officer, conferred on behalf of all healthcare workers to recognise their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.[34]
84Kellie Harrington
Ailbhe Smyth
Mary Aiken (psychologist)		9 May 202211 June 2022Ireland (Dublin)Sport / Activism / Public serviceHarrington for her community work and sporting achievements; Smyth for her work in the areas of human rights, social justice and academia; Aiken for her work in the areas of cyberpsychology, online safety and security.[35]
Notes
  1. The missing numbers 40 to 43 correspond to the four earlier non-numeric values, inserted for those who signed the roll late or never. Since 1955, numbering is from resolution rather than signature.[12]
  2. Those associated with Dublin in particular are noted

Sources
  • Clark, Mary (Spring 2000). "Freedom of the City of Dublin". Dublin Historical Record. 53 (1): 33–37. JSTOR 30101245.

References
  1. Clark (2000) p.34
  2. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the municipal corporations in Ireland (1835). First report, appendix: Report on the City of Dublin, Part I. Command papers. Vol. 27. William Clowes for HMSO. pp. 17–19, §§60–63.
  3. "Local Government Act, 2001, Section 11 (16)". Irish Statute Book. 21 July 2001. Retrieved 2 April 2015. Subject to this Act, royal charters and letters patent relating to local authorities shall continue to apply for ceremonial and related purposes in accordance with local civic tradition but shall otherwise cease to have effect.
  4. "Why are Bono and The Edge grazing sheep in Stephen's Green in 2000? It's their right as Freemen of the City". TheJournal.ie. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. AP (20 March 2000). "Bono asserts public sheep-grazing right". Rome News-Tribune. Rome, Georgia. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. (9 October 2007). U2 by U2. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-077674-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Berry, Henry F. (1900). "The Records of the Dublin Gild of Merchants, known as the Gild of the Holy Trinity, 1438-1671". The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. 10 (5th ser.) 30 (continuing) (1): 59.
  8. Gilbert, John T. (1889). "Dublin Assembly Roll, 1454". Calendar of ancient records of Dublin in the possession of the municipal corporation of that city. Vol. 1. Joseph Dollard. p. 283.
  9. "Local Government Act, 1991, Section 48". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  10. "Local Government Act, 2001, Section 74". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  11. "Previous Recipients of Keys to the City". Dublin City Council. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  12. Clark (2000) p.37
  13. "Report of the Commander of the Relief Ship Constellation". Irish Emigration Database. DIPPAM. 15 June 1880. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  14. "The Freedom of Dublin". Chicago Tribune. 4 February 1888. p. 9. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  15. Omond, George William Thomson. "Robinson, George Frederick Samuel, 1st Marquess of Ripon". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. Second Supplement, Vol.2. p. 230.
  16. Haggard, Robert F. (2001). The Persistence of Victorian Liberalism: The Politics of Social Reform in Britain, 1870-1900. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 134–135. ISBN 9780313313059. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  17. "Harty, Emanuel Spencer". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  18. Clark (2000) p.36
  19. "Cardinal Gregory Peter Agagianian, Oak Room, Mansion House". Digital Collections » Freedom of the City. Dublin City Council libraries. 22 June 1961. p. FOC001. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  20. "50 Years Ago: Cardinal to be Freeman of city" (PDF). Limerick Leader. 13 August 2012. p. 19. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  21. "Cardinal Browne receives Freedom of Borough of Drogheda". Holdings. National Library of Ireland. 31 July 1962. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  22. "Lord Mayor Michael O'Halloran, Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan, Oak Room, Mansion House". zzz. 4 March 1985. p. FOC019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  23. FOC032 Mandela 1990 Archived 2013-12-12 at the Wayback Machine Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive, 2013-01-16.
  24. Happy memories of asking the Nelson Mandela about his first vote Irish Times, 2013-12-06.
  25. "Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi leaves Ireland after awards". RTÉ News. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  26. "Councillors vote to revoke award from Aung San Suu Kyi". RTÉ News. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  27. "Aung San Suu Kyi has Freedom of Dublin award revoked". The Guardian. 14 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017 – via Agence France-Presse.
  28. "Minutes of Special Meeting held on 5 March 2006 outside the Mansion House at 4.00 pm" (PDF). Dublin City Council. 5 March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  29. Bennett, Isabel (13 November 2017). "Bob Geldof renounces honour also held by Aung San Suu Kyi". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  30. Kilraine, John [@John_Kilraine] (13 December 2017). "Dublin councillors voted 37 in favour with 7 against and 5 abstentions to also remove Bob Geldof's name from the Roll of Honorary Freemen #rtenews" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017 – via Twitter.
  31. Irish Independent, 2014-23-03.
  32. "Dublin grants Obamas Freedom of the City". BBC News. 7 February 2017.
  33. Power, Jack (18 January 2020). "Jim Gavin awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin". The Irish Times.
  34. Boland, Lauren (16 June 2021). "Chief Medical Officer accepts Freedom of the City on behalf of all healthcare workers". TheJournal.ie.
  35. "Freedom of Dublin to be awarded to three 'inspiring' women". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
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