DUBLIN, Ireland — Former U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to formally accept the Freedom of Dublin this week, a prestigious civic honour that was conferred upon him and his wife Michelle in 2017. The ceremony is anticipated to take place at the Mansion House on Thursday, ahead of a public event he is scheduled to attend on Friday.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ray McAdam, has been in the process of finalizing the arrangements for the ceremony, which will see Mr. Obama receive the city’s highest distinction. While the honour was voted on and approved by Dublin City Council in February 2017, the Obamas had not had the opportunity to formally accept it until now. A letter from the Lord Mayor urged the former president to accept the “rare distinction,” noting the “profound and lasting contribution” of his leadership and the “palpable sense of excitement and pride” during his 2011 visit to the city.
However, the Lord Mayor’s decision to proceed with the ceremony has faced objections from some current councillors. Critics from the People Before Profit party, including Councillor Conor Reddy, have called for the honour to be rescinded, citing Obama’s foreign policy record, including his administration’s use of drone warfare and its support for Israel. Despite these concerns, Councillor McAdam stated that his role is to honour a decision made by the elected members of the council years ago.
The Lord Mayor’s office has confirmed that Michelle Obama, who was also awarded the honour, will not be in attendance to accept her award.
The Freedom of Dublin comes with a number of entitlements, including the historical right to graze sheep on St Stephen’s Green. Mr. Obama will join a distinguished list of recipients, including former US presidents Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton. The most recent recipients were environmentalists Duncan Stewart and Greta Thunberg in 2023. Other notable honourees include Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, and U2. Sources and related content
