Former US president Barack Obama has said he accepted the Freedom of Dublin award, on behalf of himself and his wife Michelle, with "great humility".
At a ceremony - held for security reasons in the Shelbourne Hotel - he signed the roll of honour. Mr Obama spoke of the special bond he has with Ireland.
"These are undoubtedly times of great challenge and great change, but it is in moments like this that we are truly reminded of who we are, and both Irish and Americans are people who never stop imagining a brighter future for everyone and not just some," he said.
"And that defiant and enduring hope, has always been an unshakeable bond between our countries and so many others around the world.
"I obviously have a special connection to these isles and as I was listening to the mayor and his eloquence to the extent that I have given any decent speeches in my life, it is clearly from my Irish side and gift of gab.
"May we continue to strengthen those ties and keep working to make our lives in this world, just a little more just and a little more equal, a little more prosperous and most of a little all more free."
"I also apparently will not be availing myself of all the privileges associated with this honour because my understanding is, among others, one of those privileges is that I can allow my sheep to graze in Stephen's Green, and I have no sheep.
He also said that he understood the privileges bestowed on him by the freedom of the city, but had come unprepared for them.
"I understand that the City Council bent some rules in order for me to be here. Apparently, the traditional requirement associated with this honour requires that I have my own set of chain mail and a light helmet, and I do not have either," he said.
"I also apparently will not be availing myself of all the privileges associated with this honour, because my understanding is, among others, one of those privileges is that I can allow my sheep to graze in Stephen's Green, and I have no sheep."
Mr Obama was presented with a first edition of Ulysses and a bottle of Teeling Whiskey - gifts he said he was grateful for.
"I might be one of the few American presidents who's actually read Ulysses cover to cover. I will also say that (daughter) Malia, who was an English major at Harvard University, was a member of the Ulysses Book Club, which had precisely three members. And so, she and I together will be very excited when I let her know that we've received this gift.
"I'm fairly certain I am on the Dublin tourism bureau, because wherever I go, people ask me, what are some great towns to visit? And I will tell people, Dublin is one of the best.
"It's not just because it's beautiful, and it is not just because you can have a good time, but it's because of the warmth of its people, and you, once again, confirm that truth.
"So I want to say thank you to all of you for this extraordinary honor. I am just sorry that I am late, apparently I should have been here eight years ago, but better late than never," said Mr Obama.
The ceremony was attended by about 30 people including Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam, his wife Niamh and their six-year-old son Iarla who presented the former US leader with a home-made Spider-Man card.
Dublin City Council voted to grant award in 2017
In 2017, Dublin City Council (DCC) voted to grant Mr Obama the Freedom of Dublin.
He decided to accept it while in Ireland for an event tomorrow, amid calls by some councillors for a boycott.
The Independent Group on DCC said that it would boycott the event due to Mr Obama's "support for the terrorist regime in Israel" and his "murderous foreign policy in Libya, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere".
However, Mr McAdam said he felt that Mr Obama was a fitting recipient for the accolade.
He noted that, since the 12th century, fewer than 90 people have been awarded the Freedom of Dublin and he knew that Mr Obama "realises and understands the importance of this to the people of Dublin".
Watch: Mayor McAdam defends Obama Freedom of Dublin award
"This is the highest honour Dublin can bestow on an individual," the mayor said.
"He and his office and his team recognise that fact.
"I think the one thing that President Obama did do was that he showed that words with conviction could help change lives and he did that throughout his presidency.
"No political career is untainted and their legacies are always contested.
"But Dublin City Council, in its infinite wisdom, decided to grant him the freedom of the city in 2017 and I'm taking the opportunity, when he's here in our city, to make sure that he receives that award."
Mr McAdam said that it was an "immense privilege to meet a former US president and someone who embodies such transformative change as President Obama".
He described his time in the White House as "a unique term of office", adding that "he faced many challenges".
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Cllr McAdam said that the gifts presented to Mr Obama were "gifts of Dublin".
"I suppose what we presented him with was the gifts of Dublin, they embody our literary history, but also the warmth of our embrace as Dubliners and as Irish citizens as well. It was an incredible afternoon," he said.
"All those of us that were lucky enough and privileged to be there, enjoyed it. And I have to say, I have met few people whose presence when they walk into the room is something beyond words."
'Differing opinions' over event - mayor
Of Dublin City Council’s seven group leaders, two declined their invitations to the ceremony.
They represent People Before Profit-Solidarity and an Independent grouping.
Mr McAdam said there were "differing opinions", noting that the council has 63 members.
"We are a very politically pluralistic council, so if there wasn't a difference of opinion, I would have been surprised.
"We live in a democracy and they are free to say and put forward their arguments.
However, "as lord mayor, it is my responsibility to ensure that the will of the elected members is honoured and is fulfilled.
"If those who oppose it at the time or those that are on the city council don't agree with it ... that's okay."
This, Mr McAdam said, is because every political career and its legacy is always questioned.
"You're not going to have a political career where everyone says you did a great job.
"There'll always be some who will find faults or have question marks about some of the actions or views you took when you're in office.
"That goes the same for a president of the United States as it does for lord mayor."
In a statement, the Independent Group on DCC said: "The Obama administration granted Israel an unprecedented military aid package of $38 billion in 2015 despite its war crimes in Gaza and relentless settlement expansion.
"His administration objected to Palestine joining the International Criminal Court and opposed any ICC investigation of grave crimes by Israeli officials."
Councillors Cieran Perry, Nial Ring, John Lyons, Mannix Flynn, Pat Dunne and Kevin Breen said the Obama administration carried out more drone strikes on Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen compared to the Bush administration.
Mr Obama is in Dublin ahead of an event at 3Arena tomorrow where he will be in conversation with The Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole.
The sold-out event, before an audience of 7,500, follows a similar gathering in London last night.
Ninety people have previously been conferred with the Freedom of Dublin, the most recent being environmentalists Duncan Stewart and Greta Thunberg in June 2023.
Others include Nelson Mandela, John F Kennedy, Mikhail Gorbachev, George Bernard Shaw, U2, Brian O'Driscoll and Dr Tony Holohan.
In 2017, Bob Geldof returned his award in protest at the inclusion of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the roll of honour.
Her name was also removed in 2017.
Privileges that come with the Freedom of Dublin
While no financial benefits are attached to the award, holders of the Honourary Freedom of Dublin have some ancient privileges and duties not applicable to ordinary citizens.
These include:
- The right to bring goods into Dublin through the city gates, without paying customs duties.
- The right to pasture sheep on common ground within the city boundaries, including modern-day College Green (formerly Hoggen Green) and St Stephen's Green.
- The right to vote in municipal and parliamentary elections.
- Each freeman or freewoman must be ready to defend the city from attack.
- A freeman or freewoman can be called on to join a city militia at short notice.
According to a law passed in 1454, any merchant who becomes a freeman or freewoman must possess:
- A coat of mail
- A bow
- A light helmet
- A sword of their own.
Freemen from other trade guilds must have a bow, arrows and a sword.
A law passed in 1465 states that each freeman or freewoman has to provide themselves with a longbow (of their length) made of yew, witch-hazel or ash.
They must also have 12 arrows made of the same wood.
