‘Over the moon’: Three women to get Freedom of Dublin

Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington, human rights activist Ailbhe Smyth and world-leading expert in cyber psychology Professor Mary Aiken have spoken of their feelings of pride and joy at being awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin at a ceremony next weekend.

Although the Freedom of the City dates back to 1876 only four women are on the roll of honour; British suffragist Margaret Sandhurst, Maureen Potter, former Crown Princess Michiko of Japan and Mother Teresa. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s honour was revoked in 2017 to protest her handling of violence against Rohingya Muslims in her country.

In an interview on Sunday with Miriam on RTÉ Radio 1, Dr Smyth said she was grateful to Dublin Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland for starting to correct an imbalance which has seen only five women being conferred with the honour as opposed to 83 men.

“I think it is a real stroke of genius because it is making the point so importantly and significantly that the contributions that women make are many varied, diverse, excellent brilliant and for far too long have been ignored.

They say ‘Dublin 1 is for the far-right’ and threaten to kill a politician, yet Ireland ignores the threat

---

Unregulated student digs: A home away from home or an isolating experience?

---

Rise in school absenteeism: ‘Some stay up too late on their phones until 3 or 4am’

---

Sarah Moss: As a bike-riding vegetarian feminist I can see why people might disagree with everything I think

---

“It is a real honour for me to be sharing this Freedom of the City with a wonderful young woman, Kellie Harrington, who has done so much for women and sports and the equally brilliant in a totally different field, Mary Aiken, who is so distinguished and works on the global field. I will probably cry to be doing it with two such distinguished women.”

Ms Smyth said on a personal level she was “incredibly thrilled” as when she was a younger woman she never thought an activist and campaigner would be honoured in her city in this way.

She added that the highlight in her long life of activism was receiving a video message from her two young grandchildren, Martha and Laurie, on the morning of the count for the Repeal Referendum.

“Martha was about five-and-a-half or six and Laurie was eating his toast beside her and she said: ‘We are very proud of you Granny. We hear you are a rebel Granny.’ I felt so proud of that because it is precisely for my daughter and my granddaughter and for all our granddaughters and daughters and indeed for our sons and grandsons that we fight these fights.”

Meanwhile, Prof Mary Aiken told the show that she was delighted attention was being given to her research and work via the award.

“It is about creating a safer and more secure cyberspace so I am thrilled attention is being given to the work. To be honest I was shocked and surprised in a very pleasant way.” (when she was told she was going to receive the honour).

Prof Aiken said that one of the most surreal moments of her career came during the pandemic when she was working from home. She was due to give a White House briefing when the buzzer on her gate went and a person from the gas board told her there was a leak onsite.

“I had everything ready to go. I opened the gate and rushed out and said ‘The gas tanks are over there. Do whatever you want.’

“When people say ‘gas leak’ you are supposed to drop everything. And I said ‘look I am briefing the White House in four minutes.’ And I got that sympathetic look where he said ‘yes I am sure you are talking to the White House’.”

“I am sure that poor man went home and said ‘you will not believe that crazy woman I met.’ I went in and did the briefing and the gas leak was dealt with.”

Meanwhile, World Boxing Championship and Olympic winning boxer Kellie Harrington said she was “over the moon” at the honour.

“What an honour to have. There are very few women. It is a special day. I am from Dublin 1. That is part of who I am and why I am in this position. Where I am from comes with resilience and you need resilience to get to the top. I am so proud of where I come from and everything that is the inner city.”

Ms Harrington joked that she would be “gunning for the role of Lord Mayor” next. She added that she was hugely looking forward to the honour in the Mansion House in Dublin on June 11th.