Kellie Harrington to receive Freedom of Dublin this weekend

Kellie Harrington, Ailbhe Smyth and Professor Mary Aiken will all be honoured at the ceremony tomorrow.

Irish Olympic champion Kellie Harrington is set to receive the Freedom of the City of Dublin tomorrow. Dublin's Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland will present the Freedom to the boxer at the Mansion House alongside the award's other recipients - activist Ailbhe Smyth and Professor Mary Aiken. Mayor Gilliland announced that Harrington, Smyth and Aiken would receive the honour earlier this year. She said: "I am honoured and privileged to propose these three women for Dublin City’s highest award, the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin. "They have made a significant contribution to our city and indeed our country." Outlining her reasons for nominating the women, Mayor Gilliland said: "I have nominated Ailbhe Smyth for her work in the areas of human rights, social justice and academia, Professor Mary Aiken for her work in the areas of cyberpsychology, online safety and security, and Kellie Harrington for her unstinting work in the community, her caring exemplar and role modelling for young people and for her sporting achievements. "They are three inspiring women and I’m delighted to be able to acknowledge their achievements and contribution to Irish public life." The ceremony will take place in the Round Room tomorrow. Other recipients of the award in the past include Brian O'Driscoll, Tony Holohan and Bono. Last year, Kellie Harrington was the pride of the nation as she won an Olympic gold medal for Ireland in the lightweight division. The boxer, who hails from Portland Row in the North inner city, also worked on the frontline as a cleaner in St. Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital all throughout the pandemic. Earlier this year, she joined Paralympian Ellen Keane as the joint Grand Marshalls for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin City.