Dr. Tony Holohan is to be awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin.
Lord Mayor Hazel Chu’s nomination of Dr. Tony Holohan was warmly welcomed by all Councillors and subsequently ratified at this evening’s Dublin City Council meeting. The award of the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin acknowledges the contribution of recipients to the life of Ireland’s capital city. It also bestows honour on important visitors to Dublin.
Dr. Holohan will join an illustrious list of Freemen and Freewomen including former US presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and former Dublin Football Manager Jim Gavin who in January this year became the 82nd person to be conferred with the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu said, “I am honoured to propose Dr. Tony Holohan, as the leader of the Covid response team, for Dublin City’s highest award, the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin. The position he holds represents all front line workers and all the work they do. He has been a constant presence in our lives during Covid19 and his calm manner in imparting advice gave reassurance to us all.”
I am honoured to propose Dr. Tony Holohan, as the leader of the #COVIDー19 response team, for the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin. He has been a constant presence in our lives during Covid19 and his calm manner in imparting advice gave reassurance to us all. pic.twitter.com/6z7LB7ZIpp
— Lord Mayor of Dublin (@LordMayorDublin) July 6, 2020
Dr. Tony Holohan, a medical graduate of UCD, has been the Chief Medical Officer of Ireland since 2008 and in his role as Chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) he has been the public face of the Department of Health through daily televised updates on the Covid19 pandemic.
Amongst the ancient privileges afforded to a Freeman or Freewoman is 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; and the right to vote in municipal and parliamentary elections.
The Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin will be conferred on Dr. Holohan at a future date.
Tonight I join with @DubCityCouncil Cllrs to acknowledge the work of the newest Freeman of Dublin City Dr Tony Holohan. In honouring him we acknowledge the sacrifice of all those who risked their lives on the frontline and remember those too who lost their lives. # DubMayor350 pic.twitter.com/7IPSPvJy9x
— Paul McAuliffe TD (@PaulMcauliffe) July 6, 2020
