Brenda Fricker to be given the Freedom of Dublin City

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, proposed the conferral of the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin on Brenda Fricker and has welcomed the City Council’s endorsement of that nomination, with her name to be inscribed on the Roll of Honorary Freedom of Dublin pursuant to Section 74 of the Local Government Act 2001.

Speaking following the decision, the Lord Mayor said “Brenda Fricker is one of Dublin’s most distinguished cultural figures and it is a source of immense pride that our city is recognising her in this way.”

McAdam explained “my mayoral theme is ‘Celebrating Dublin’, and tonight we do exactly that by honouring a great Dublin woman whose talent, integrity and craft have represented our capital city with distinction across a lifetime of extraordinary work.”

“Brenda’s Academy Award winning performance in ‘My Left Foot’ was a landmark moment for Irish acting and Irish cinema. But what makes her career so special is the body of work that followed, marked by honesty, depth and a rare ability to bring warmth and toughness in the same breath. Her performances have helped tell Irish stories and have become part of family life across generations,” he said.

“This honour is not simply about international acclaim. It is about contribution and the pride Brenda has brought to Dublin and to Ireland,” he explained.

“Her work also has a personal resonance in our own family. My son Iarlaith loves ‘Home Alone 2’ and knows Brenda as the Pigeon Lady, a role that continues to be discovered by a whole new generation. My wife Niamh has often spoken about how films like ‘A Time to Kill’ helped inspire her own path into law and public service. That is the quiet reach of great work. It travels, it endures, and it can help shape lives.”

“We look forward to welcoming Brenda Fricker for the formal conferral in due course,” the Lord Mayor said.