Swedish Environmentalist Greta Thunberg has been nominated to receive the Freedom of Dublin city.
The young woman follows three other Irish women Kellie Harrington, Ailbhe Smyth and Professor Mary Aiken who were awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin last year.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy, with the support of Group Leaders on Dublin City Council, has nominated the 20-year-old alongside Irish Environmentalist and architect Duncan Stewart.
READ MORE: Freedom of Dublin taken from Aung San Suu Kyi
The Lord Mayor had asked Greta’s team some time ago if she would agree to accept the honour and received a reply late last night to say she would be happy to do so.
She said that Miss Thurnberg has been a significant presence on the international stage, particularly in rallying young people to the climate challenge.
“I am a huge admirer of both Duncan and Greta. They are absolutely passionate about raising awareness of this huge issue. Our city has never before used this award to celebrate the role of environmental activists.
“We must recognise the incredible work done across generations to protect our shared city and planet, ” Lord Mayor Conroy noted.
With regard to Mr Stewart (75) she added: “I said already that I couldn’t think of any other Irish person who had done more over such a long period of time to spread the word about environmental issues than Duncan.”
The nominations were made this morning (Wednesday) at a meeting of Dublin City Council’s Protocol Committee and will now go forward for approval at the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council next Monday .
Miss Thurnberg and Mr Stewart are set to join an illustrious list of Freemen and Freewomen including former US Presidents John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, entertainer Maureen Potter, former Dublin Football Managers Kevin Heffernan and Jim Gavin, broadcaster Gay Byrne and poet Thomas Kinsella.
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