16th April 2014
Copyright Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
I’ve met Michael D Higgins on a number of occasions in Cork.
The date for this years Freedom of the City ceremony has been
confirmed by the Lord Mayor
President Michael D Higgins – who only last week made an historic
first official visit to the United Kingdom – will receive the Cities
highest honour on Thursday of next week – the 24th of April.
72 year old Michael D will become the sixth president of Ireland to
receive the honour – following in the footsteps of Douglas Hyde, Éamon
de Valera, Sean T. O’Kelly, Mary Robinson, and Mary McAleese.
Last year, local comedians Frank Duggan and Michael Twomey — better
known as Cha and Miah — and entertainer Billa O’Connell received the
title jointly.
This years selection has proved controversial in some quarters.
The Current Lord Mayor Cllr Catherine Clancy who is a member of the
Labour Party, and Michael D is a former president of that same party.
While both figures are considered to be “above politics” during their
respective terms of office.
Workers party Cllr Ted Tynan has accused the Labour Party on Council
of using the award for political reasons in the run up to the
elections
0414-FREEDOM-01-ted-tynan-says-labour-are-using-award-for-political-reasons-RD.mp3
