Freedom of Dublin is presented to Kellie Harrington, Mary Aiken and Ailbhe Smith

Olympic gold medalist Kellie Harrington, along with cyber psychologist Dr. Mary Aiken and academic and LGBTQ activist Ailbhe Smith with the Freedom of Dublin.

he Irish Independent has been told Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland is due to make the announcement tonight at Dublin City Council’s monthly meeting.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin nominates people for the city’s freedom. All nominations are brought before a City Council meeting, where they must be ratified by majority vote.

Recipients of this award are referred to as the “Freeman” or “Freewoman” of Dublin.

Only four women have received this honor so far. A total of 83 people were honored under the current process, established in 1876.

Kellie Harrington, who married her longtime partner Mandy Louglin last month, won gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

The book The Cyber ​​Effect by the world’s leading cyber psychologist Dr. Mary Aiken examines the relationship between technology and human behavior.

dr Aiken is Professor of Cyber ​​Psychology and Chair of the Department of Cyber ​​Psychology at Capitol Technology University, Washington DC’s premier STEM university.

Ailbhe Smyth is the Founding Director of UCD’s Women’s Education, Resource and Research Center (WERRC) and is also an LGBTQ activist.

The three women are expected to be honored in a ceremony over the next four weeks before the end of Cllr Gilliland’s term as Lord Mayor.

Only four women have received this honor so far.

The late Mother Teresa of Calcutta was granted the Freedom of Dublin in June 1993, Michiko, then Crown Princess of Japan, in March 1985, actress Maureen Potter in June 1984 and suffragist Margaret Sandhurst in September 1889.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama was nominated in 2017 for her work educating girls around the world and on behalf of Refugees for Freedom, but the honor has yet to be bestowed.

There are no financial or other advantages associated with the freedom of the city. However, it has significant prestige, as well as some interesting symbolic privileges and duties, such as: B. Permission to graze sheep in urban common areas such as College Green and St.

The names of Myanmar’s pro-democracy leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Bob Geldof were removed from the freedom of honor list in December 2017.

Dublin City Council voted to reverse their 2000 decision to free her for her oppression of her country’s Rohingya Muslims.

Geldof requested the removal of his name in protest at being given the honor.

Two former independent Lord Mayor councillors, Christy Burke and Niall Ring, have been demanding that Harrington be given the highest civic honor given to her since last year, as they said she is a ‘true ambassador for Dublin and Ireland’.

Cllr Burke added: “It is only right that Kellie should finally be given this honor. She really is a role model for young and old as she works and trains so hard. Keillie is such a dignified, caring and really great all rounder. It’s a big boost for her and her career.”

Commenting on the nomination today, Niall Ring said it was “a well-deserved honor for Kellie, whose World Championship and subsequent Olympic gold medal-winning performance at last year’s Olympics is now being recognized with the highest accolade her hometown can bestow – the Freedom of Dublin .

“As Lord Mayor in 2018, I was able to present Kellie with a Lord Mayor’s Award and civic reception to recognize her gold medal win at the World Championships and I am thrilled that Lord Mayor Gilliand has nominated her for the largest and most prestigious award of all – The liberty of the city of Dublin,” he added.

“The sheer joy, pride and excitement that Kellie brought to downtown north and across the nation this past August prompted me to immediately contact the Lord Mayor and ask her to honor Kellie with the city’s freedom nominate. Lord Mayor Gilliland responded quickly and positively, as we noted at the Central Area Committee in September, and has now delivered on that promise.

“This is another great day for North Inner City and for Kellie Harrington. The liberty of the city comes with symbolic privileges and of course duties, including defending the city if attacked – who better to fulfill that particular duty than a world and Olympic champion in boxing?” he concluded.

Harrington has ruled out turning pro but has vowed to defend her Olympic title in France in 2024.