Kinsella, le Brocquy to be honoured

Poet Thomas Kinsella and artist Louis le Brocquy will be bestowed with the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin in a ceremony…

Poet Thomas Kinsella and artist Louis le Brocquy will be bestowed with the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin in a ceremony tonight.

The men will be honoured as a tribute to their artistic prowess and their valuable contribution to the arts both at home and abroad.

"Receiving the Freeman of the City does not bring with it any financial benefit, however the prestige and honour it carries is immense," said Cllr Vincent Jackson, who will confer the men at a ceremony in City Hall.

"It is a privilege for me personally to be in this position as Dublin's First Citizen, to pay tribute to Thomas Kinsella and Louis le Brocquy, two highly deserving recipients."

READ MORE

Kinsella will receive a detailed crystal book in recognition of his valuable and consistent contribution to Irish literature, while le Brocquy will get a crystal palette to signify his influence in the world of art. Both gifts are designed by Waterford Crystal.

The honour has previously been conferred on 74 persons ranging from presidents to prisoners of conscience and people in sports and entertainment.

The first recipient of the Freedom of the City was Isaac Butt in 1876, with subsequent recipients including Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, Gay Byrne, Nelson Mandela, rock group U2, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Bob Geldof.