Olympic gold medallist to be awarded freedom of borough

Olympic gold medallist Hannah Scott is to be awarded the freedom of the borough after her success at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The move was unanimously agreed at a special meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on Tuesday, where Scott was described as "an inspiration" to young women.

The 26-year-old Coleraine native won gold in the women's quadruple sculls for Great Britain at the Paris Games.

The freedom of the borough is the highest honour that a council can bestow on any organisation or individual.

The Alliance motion, proposed by alderman Yvonne Boyle and seconded by councillor Amy Mairs, recognises Scott as only the second woman from Northern Ireland to win Olympic gold, following Lady Mary Peters' gold medal victory at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

Boyle said the decision shows how proud the borough is of Scott.

"Her Olympic gold medal was a truly historic achievement, not only for her and her family, but for our entire community," Boyle said.

"To see a young woman from Coleraine, who learned to row here in the famous Bann Rowing Club, go on to reach the very pinnacle of world sport is extraordinary."

She said the honour was "bestowed on Hannah in recognition of her dedication, resilience and excellence, as well as the inspiration she provides to young people across Causeway Coast and Glens".

"She is a champion in every sense of the word, and this is a fitting way for us to say how immensely proud we are of her."

In a dramatic conclusion to the women's quadruple sculls race at the Paris Olympic Games, a well-timed kick from Team GB in the final 100 metres pushed them past the Dutch team, securing first place by just 0.15 seconds in a photo finish.

Thousands of people lined the streets as Scott received a hero's welcome upon her return to Coleraine in August last year.

In October, Scott donated her £20,000 award from the Olympic Medallist Fund, which was set up following the Games, to her home club, Bann Rowing Club, where she has been a member throughout her sporting career.

The club, which is situated beneath a Chinese restaurant near Coleraine town centre, used the money to buy two single scull boats and a safety boat.

Also approved at the special meeting on Tuesday was a motion to confer the freedom of the borough on the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

The NI Prison Service will join frontline healthcare workers in the Causeway Coast and Glens area who were previously awarded the honour.

The motion to honour prison service staff, proposed by DUP Alderman Aaron Callan and seconded by Alderman Mark Fielding, recognises the "immense sacrifice of prison officers who served in Northern Ireland through its most difficult times, and those who continue to serve the community to the present day with great bravery".

The tradition finds its roots in the Middle Ages when freedom of the borough came with certain privileges.

Nowadays, however, the title is purely honorary and Ards and North Down Borough Council describes it as "symbolic expression of honour and appreciation for an organisation or individual".

Other notable recipients of freedom of the borough or city include Sir Kenneth Branagh, Van Morrison, Dame Mary Peters, Michael Longley and Bill Clinton and George Mitchell who all have the freedom of Belfast.

Liam Neeson has the freedom of Ballymena (now part of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council) and racer Jonathan Rea was given the honour by Antrim and Newtownabbey.

Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody has the freedom of Ards and North Down, while Gloria Hunniford was the first female recipient of the freedom of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, and George Best, was given the freedom of Borough of Castlereagh in 2002 (an area absorbed into Belfast City Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh in 2015).

Freedoms are also conferred to organisations like the emergency services and health and social care staff.