President Catherine Connolly will receive the Freedom of Galway City this week to honour the local woman, now head of state.
President Connolly will receive the award in a ceremony at the Hardiman Hotel on Friday, June 12.
Catherine Connolly was elected President last year after nearly a decade as an Independent TD for Galway West.
Prior to this the Galway City native had served as a city councillor from 1999 – 2016, and was the Mayor of the City of Galway in 2004 – 2005 while still a member of Labour.
The Honorary Freedom of the City of Galway is the highest civic award bestowed by the City of Galway.
Recipients of the award are referred to as “Freeman” or “Freewoman” of the City of Galway, and as such become an Honorary Citizen of the city.
The bestowing of the Freedom is ratified by the elected members of Galway City Council.
In 1840, the City of Galway lost its Corporation status after the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act and was replaced by a Town Council.
In 1938, Galway again received city status and the Corporation was re-established. With this, came the right to elect a mayor of the city and thus to award Freedom of the City.
The first recipient of the honour was President Douglas Hyde in 1939.
The Council has conferred this award to only 33 people. The most recent person to receive the award was much loved local broadcaster Keith Finnegan
The full list of recipients to date can be viewed here.
