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 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.