People

Some men 'freer' than others

SMALL PRINT: With news that Ryan Tubridy is to receive the freedom of Connemara entitling him to free haircuts, potatoes and…

Una Mullally's face
Una Mullally
Wed Jul 13 2011 - 01:00

SMALL PRINT:With news that Ryan Tubridy is to receive the freedom of Connemara entitling him to free haircuts, potatoes and Roundstone turf, it seems he got a pretty sweet deal – considering other places just give you a giant novelty key and a handshake.

These honours generally yield defunct privileges such as a right to trade, or the ability to bring goods into the city without paying customs duty, although try saying that at the airport. So, where are the best places to receive the freedom to?

DUBLIN

Entitlements: pasturing sheep on College Green and St Stephen's Green (tried and tested by Bono.) Alumni:U2, Mother Teresa, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela.

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LONDON

Entitlements: the right to drive cattle over London Bridge. Also, a silk rope if hanged. And a freeman found drunk on the street can be driven home in a car organised by the London police. Alumni:A very unexclusive 1,800 people a year.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA

Entitlements: a white Stetson in a ceremony called "white hatting." Alumni:George W Bush, ZZ Top.

And the strangest instances of people being granted the freedom of cities? US actress Hilary Duff in Bogota, Jackie Chan in Toronto, the Kardashian family in Beverly Hills, and remarkably, Saddam Hussein in Detroit.