Shay Given kept a date yesterday which he admitted he would have rather been somewhere else - but he said it was still a magnificent honour. He is the first person to be have been awarded the freedom of his home county, Donegal.
Given (30) was surrounded by family and friends as mayor Dessie Larkin presented him with a special badge and pin and joked that he appreciated the international goalkeeper would rather be elsewhere.
Given said he would have preferred to be in Germany this week like every Irish fan ,"but it just wasn't to be. We weren't good enough to qualify for the World Cup finals." He tipped Argentina to win. "They are scoring goals like they are right out of PlayStation".
The county was able to acclaim him a freeman, its highest honour, because recent changes under the Local Government Act meant it could upgrade its previous top honour, a civic reception.
Mr Larkin said he pencilled in the event as soon as he took office a year ago.