Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are set to visit the capital this week and receive the Freedom of Dublin at a ceremony at the Mansion House
The couple were granted the prestigious title in February 2017 by Dublin City Council following Obama's conclusion of his eight-year presidency. They were unable to formally receive it at the time, so Lord Mayor Ray McAdam is now extending an invitation for them to accept the official grant and sign the honour roll.
It is now anticipated that the Obamas will be bestowed with the honour on Thursday, ahead of Barack's Evening With event at the 3Arena on Friday, according to RTE.
The Freedom of Dublin city remains largely ceremonial in contemporary Ireland, though historically it carried specific rights and responsibilities that holders were required to maintain. Whilst freemen and women enjoyed the privilege of grazing sheep on College Green or St Stephen's Green, they were also obligated to stand ready to protect Dublin city from invasion.
Additional recipients of this distinction include all four U2 band members, Nelson Mandela, Jim Gavin and John F Kennedy. Kellie Harrington, Greta Thunberg and Dr Tony Holohan feature amongst the latest honorees.
Ancient Privileges include:
The right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates, without paying customs duties. The right to pasture sheep on common ground within the city boundaries, including modern-day College Green (formerly Hoggen Green) and St. Stephen's Green. The right to vote in municipal and parliamentary elections.
Ancient Duties include:
Each Freeman or Freewoman must be ready to defend the city from attack. A Freeman or Freewoman can be called on to join a city militia at short notice. According to a law passed in 1454, any merchant who becomes a Freeman or Freewoman must possess the following items: A coat of mail A bow A light helmet A sword of their own Freemen from the other trade guilds must have a bow, arrows and a sword. A law passed in 1465 states that each Freeman or Freewoman has to provide themselves with a longbow (of their length) made of yew, witch-hazel or ash. They must also have twelve arrows made of the same wood.
In a letter to the Obamas, Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said he would be happy to host a full meeting of Dublin City Council to formally award the honour to them. Speaking of their visit to Dublin in 2011, he said: "It remains one of the defining moments of modern Dublin's story- a moment of shared hope, friendship and global connection."
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.