John Giles to be awarded Freedom of Dublin City, along with a few odd privileges

Dublin City Council voted last night and decided the Freedom of the City of Dublin award should go to none other than John Giles. So here’s a look at his new (or ancient, depending on how you look at it) Privileges & Duties…

Both John Giles and Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre were named as the latest recipients of the Freedom of the City of Dublin award, which acknowledges the contribution of certain people to the life of Dublin City.

Speaking at the event last night, Lord Mayor Christy Burke said John Giles had been “Ireland’s greatest footballer”.

So what exactly will John and Brother Kevin receive when they’re officially awarded the honour early next year? Well, according to the Dublin City Council website: “No financial or other benefits are attached to the Freedom of the City. However it does carry significant prestige, as well as some interesting symbolic privileges and duties.”

“Holders of the Freedom of Dublin have a number of ancient privileges and duties not applicable to ordinary citizens, some of which have little more than symbolic meaning in the modern world.”

Those privileges/duties are…

Privileges of a Freeman/Freewoman

• 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. This includes modern-day College Green (formerly Hoggen Green) and St.Stephen’s Green. (This right was exercised by Freeman ‘Bono’ of U2 in 2000)
• The right to vote in municipal and parliamentary elections.

Duties of a Freeman/Freewoman

• Each Freeman/Freewoman has to be ready to defend the city from attack.
• A Freeman/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/Freewoman must possess the following items:

1. A coat of mail
2. A bow
3. A light helmet
4. A sword of his/her own
5. Freemen from all the other trade guilds must have a bow, arrows and a sword.

• A law passed in 1465, states that each Freeman/Freewoman has to provide himself/herself with a longbow (of his own length) made of yew, witch-hazel or ash. He/she must also have twelve arrows made of the same wood.

We just hope John manages to sort out his coat of mail and bow before he’s handed his award…

Dublin City Council 

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