Councillor Nial Ring has contacted the Lord Mayor of Dublin to formally propose that Kellie Harrington be given the freedom of the city.
After landing Ireland’s third boxing gold medal at the Olympics, the Dubliner will return to Ireland today where she's expected to receive a rapturous homecoming welcome by her friends and family in Portland Row.
An open-top bus parade is planned for golden girl Kellie Harrington near her home in Dublin’s north inner city tonight.
The homecoming is due from around 5pm, with Kellie likely travelling along Ballybough Road towards Summerhill, past her parent’s house in Portland Row, and passing through neighbouring Killarney Street, Sean McDermott Street, Gardiner Street and the North Strand.
In a statement that was released, the North Inner City councillor said: "Kellie's inspirational achievements, culminating in her Olympic Gold medal win yesterday must be formally recognised with her being conferred with the highest award the city can give - the Freedom of the City" Cllr. Ring explained.
"Kellie has put the North Inner City, Dublin and Ireland on the world stage in the most positive way possible and the Freedom of her native city would be a fitting recognition of her achievements" he continued.
"In the past many sportspeople have been recognised, such as Stephen Roche (cycling), Kevin Heffernan and Jim Gavin (GAA0, Jack Charlton and Johnny Giles (Soccer), Brian O'Driscoll (Rugby) and her fellow Olympic Gold medallist Ronnie Delaney (Athletics). This award to Kellie would not only be recognition for her but also for Boxing itself which has for too long been the "poor relation" in Irish Sport" he added.
"We can't have a civic reception for Kellie at this point in time, but of course we will get a chance to show her our appreciation tomorrow evening on Portland Row. Later in the year, if and when my fellow councillors support my proposal for the award, we can have a formal civic reception and let the whole of Dublin and Ireland celebrate this magnificent achievement by the wonderful North Inner City girl" he concluded.
Speaking on Newstalk, Ring said that it's a shame Covid restrictions will limit the numbers but the Freedom of the City
"We're not 100% sure exactly what's going to happen but the plan at the moment is that she will be in the area sometime in the late afternoon. We're just holding on and obviously, the guards, the civil defence and Dublin City Council are working hard to make sure that she is brought into the area in some way because that's what the area wants.
"It is a pity that the whole country can't welcome her home but it's just unfortunate that's the way it is at the moment. Hopefully, she gets the freedom of the city, and we can really have a good event then - a proper civic reception - which is no more than she deserves, of course," he said.
Ring also believes that Harrington is a "show in" to receive the award because not only is she a superb athlete, but she embodies the best qualities of Dubliners.
"If ever there was a shoo-in for the freedom of the city, I think it has to be Kellie and in fact when you say there haven't been many recipients, it's going for about 150 years or so and there's only been 82. Bizarrely, on the roll at the moment, there are only two women and it's nearly 30 years since the last woman received it, which was Mother Teresa.
"The fact there's no woman sportsperson on it and no boxing people on it - given our tremendous record in boxing we've had over a number of years - it's something that has to be put right, and no better woman than Kellie, she fits every criterion for this award," he said.
