Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
GRETA THUNBERG AND the late Brendan Grace are among recipients of the Dublin Lord Mayor’s Award.
Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe presented five individuals and two organisations with the awards at a reception at the Mansion House this evening.
An annual event since 1989, this award ceremony is an opportunity for the Lord Mayor to highlight and acknowledge, in a special way, achievements of both individuals and groups.
Recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Awards include Brendan Grace (posthumous), an entertainer of over 40 years who died on 11 July of this year, drag queen Panti Bliss and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Due to previous commitments, Thunberg was not able to attend the ceremony. Irish children involved in the Friday’s for Future Climate Change marches in Dublin collected the award on her behalf.
Colin Bell was also awarded tonight. Bell founded the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust following the tragic death of his son Kevin in a hit and run incident in New York in June 2013.
Lord Mayor of Dublin / Twitter
Lord Mayor of Dublin / Twitter / Twitter
Lord Mayor of Dublin / Twitter
Lord Mayor of Dublin / Twitter / Twitter
Joe Hughes and Karen Phoenix also received an award. The pair set up Lil Red’s Legacy following the death of their 15-year-old son Sean to sepsis in 2018.
The two organisations to be awarded tonight were Dublin Bus Travel Assistance Scheme and Dublin City Liffey Swim.
Previous winners of the award include Jim Gavin, Imelda May, Maeve Binchy, Brian O’Driscoll, Jimmy Magee and Commander Chris Hadfield.
“One of the great things about being Lord Mayor is the opportunity it presents to confer awards on people who have made a major contribution to this city,” McAuliffe said.
The Lord Mayor’s Awards are all about saying ‘thank you’ not only on my own behalf but on behalf of all the people of Dublin, to citizens who, through their ordinary everyday lives, enrich this city in an extraordinary way.
“All are richly deserving of this award. I applaud all of these people for the work they do that makes such a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Brendan Grace spent a life time of relevance entertaining folk to earn that award. Greta Thunberg has only being entertaining us for a short while. Not a fair comparison by any stretch…
.
@Lar Meyler: agreed but not in the way you mean.
@Lar Meyler: Don’t be insulting “Graham’s” taste in music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLxpgRqxtEA
@Sean O’ Donovan: more in the manics & wu tang but whatever floats ur boat
@GrahamMManning: Air floats my boat, including 0.034% CO2 concentration.
@Sean O’ Donovan: Your figure is waaay out of date. It’s rising fast dontcha know?
https://www.sciencealert.com/it-s-official-atmospheric-co2-just-exceeded-415-ppm-for-first-time-in-human-history
@Sean O’ Donovan: look if how boats float needs explaining we’re too far behind to catch up. xoxo.
@GerryCummins: You should go back to China Gerry, there’s over a billion people there you can argue with. I’m sure they are eager to know all the secrets of the world as they have restricted internet over there.
@Paraic: What if it’s an Eco-friendly boat with a self-sustaining greenhouse?
@GrahamMManning: A pat on the head and a gold star for effort for you. I doubt your density will ever float.
@Lar Meyler: HOW DARE YOU
Da auld mayor jumping on thumberg bandwagon, OMG .
@Ned: indeed. wonder if they’ll ever have to change their mind and rescind it in years to come, if the mask slips, like Aung San Suu Kyi ?…..that didn’t last long now did it…. ?
Not in my name.
I watched Brendan’s programme ‘Thanks for the memories’ , what a wonderful person he was and through his dedication I came to know the Forget me nots choir, they are such amazing people as are all associated with the choir especially Brendan’s fellow performer’s in the entertainment industry. It is great to see Brendan acknowledged in his home town and he will be dearly missed by all, may he rest in peace.Colin Bell is another very deserving recipient of this award for all he does for families traumatised by sudden death of a loved one abroad and helping to repatriate their remains at a difficult time, there is not enough praise for all the good this man does.
Who pays for this event, tax payers?
@Joe Dixon: In a roundabout way, that’s who pays for everything Joe!!
@Joe Dixon: no theres a whio round and they search behinf tbe cushions in the Mansion Hiude for loose change
That tweet about LGBTQ citizens is so empty of actual sentiment that it’s palpable.
This has to be a joke
Brendan grace yes but not some kid who thinks she’s is the perfect person who’s going to save the world
Us Irish are getting stupid by the day
@John gaughan: Brendan grace was desperately unfunny.
@Stephen Coveney: You need a sense of humour, and life experience to appreciate his wit! Neither of which you would seem to have..
Dopey Dubs again ! Silly
@Ronan O’ Brien: 5
Brendan grace yes but her nope why not someone working tirelessly alongside the homeless on the streets one of our own !!!!!!
The buffoon of Mayor has demeaned this award; meant for those who quietly serve our communities, not the chancers he has chosen.
I pay my taxes. Do I also then get an award?
Oh Christ…
Mayor you are way off on this one.brendan grace yes but your wan.no way.not on my behalf anyway.
Well done Greata
How about Catherine Corless getting some recognition?
Our lord mayor cannot resist jumping on any bandwagon coming his way. Also, please tell me something Panti Bliss has actually done? The virtue signalling is ceaseless and relentless and, even worse boooring!!! Very boooring.
@Paul Flanagan: He has done nothing to deserve anything the Mayor has disgraced his office by giving him an award. He and his constant victimhood has done more to turn people against gay people than any other person in our history.
O! FCUK OFF.. GETTING RIDICULOUS
Well done Greata
@Philip Siggins: When have you sailed across the Atlantic or written a best selling book, or mobilised a mass protest, or addressed the UN, or spoken at TED or received awards from multiple nations Mr Bigshot? LOL, you’re just broadcasting your own inadequacies.
When will people wake up to the fact that climate change is a UN hoax backed by the papacy.
The Irish Times was dead right if this comment section is anything to go by!
@Keith O’Reilly: who cares what some nonce who writes for the Irish tunes thinks?
It’s hilarious all these grown men crying about a little girl, ye have little to cry about
@Barry Zuckerkorn: please point out these so called crying men to me cos I don’t see any
Greta….. the new Jesus
She is an annoying tit of a child but whoever voted this ass of a mayor in should think again. She is a tit but he is an ass
You hammer Dublin Bus every chance the journal gets. Yet mentioned nothing about the life changing Access Scheme they run.
have your say