Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington should be a "shoo-in" for Dublin's Freedom of the City, according to Councillor Nial Ring.
He was speaking ahead of the boxer's arrival back in Ireland this afternoon after her win in Tokyo, along with other Team Ireland Olympians and bronze medallist Aidan Walsh.
There's likely to be a scaled-back homecoming in Dublin for Kellie due to COVID-19 restrictions.
However, it's expected that she'll travel on an open-top bus through Dublin's north inner city to her family home on Portland Row.
People are being urged to avoid converging around the Portland Row area, and to not travel to the airport.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Councillor Nial Ring says it's unfortunate there can't be a larger homecoming - but officials are working hard to make sure Kellie is brought through the area.
He said: “We’re not 100% sure what’s going to happen, but the plan at the moment is that she will be in the area - sometime in the late afternoon.
“It is a pity the whole country can’t welcome her home, but it’s just unfortunate that’s the way it is at the moment.
"Hopefully she gets the Freedom of the City, and we can really have a good event then - a proper civic reception, which is no more than she deserves."
Councillor Ring has put Kellie's name forward for the Freedom of the City - an honour which would put her among only a few dozen others.
He explained: “If ever there was a shoo-in for the Freedom of the City, I think it has to be Kellie. It’s going for around 150 years, and there have only been 82 - bizarrely, on the roll at the moment, there are only two women.
"It’s nearly 30 years since the last woman received it, which was Mother Teresa.
“The fact there’s no woman sportsperson and no boxing people on it… it’s something that has to be put right, and no better woman than Kellie.”
He said he has brought the idea to Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland - the only person who can formally nominate someone for the Freedom of the City.
However, she believes the ceremony should only be held once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted - allowing more Dubliners to attend to celebrate the city's Olympic champion.
