The anti-poverty campaigner, Bob Geldof, has said that he is thrilled at the news he is to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Geldof said the honour was genuinely appreciated. 'On days like this it's fun to be Irish. I feel very proud. It's not a word that comes easy to my lips.'
'Where I live in England gave me the freedom of that place, and Newcastle and various cities, but if you are going to be honoured then it's from your home town that you want more than anything else,' Mr Geldof said.
The former Boomtown Rats singer is to receive the honour along with Irish Olympic hero Ronnie Delaney, after a vote by Dublin City Council last night.
However, last night's decision came after a dispute among councillors over the proposal at the council’s monthly meeting at Dublin City Hall.
Dublin's Lord Mayor, Catherine Byrne, made the proposal to honour the two men, but the move was opposed by the leader of the Fianna Fáil group, Maurice Ahern, on procedural grounds.
Councillor Ahern said his party had only formally learned of the plan at 6pm yesterday evening and needed more time to consider the issue.
All the other party groups backed the Lord Mayor and there was a sharp exchange of views.
As the debate became heated, the meeting was adjourned while councillors tried to reach a political compromise.
After the adjournment, the Fianna Fáil group thanked the council for the opportunity to consider the matter and backed the plan. The council then unanimously agreed to bestow the honour.
Honour for Geldof's campaigning
Mr Geldof is being honoured for his work in trying to alleviate debt in Africa and his campaign against world poverty.
He recently led the organisation of the Live8 series of concerts which were held around the world on 2 July to highlight the campaign to end debt in developing countries.
Mr Delaney will also be honoured almost 50 years after he won Ireland's last Olympic gold medal for athletics in the 1,500 metres at the 1956 games in Melbourne.
The Freedom of the City, the highest honour the council can bestow, is conferred very rarely. Previous recipients of the award include rock band U2, Mother Theresa and former US president Bill Clinton.
