RTÉ broadcaster to be awarded freedom of Connemara

BROADCASTER RYAN Tubridy is to be granted the freedom of Connemara at the weekend.

This will entitle him to a number of rights, including free anchorage rights for life on Buttermilk Lake, free grazing rights for sheep on the commonage of Clifden, free car parking, free haircuts for life for him and his grandchildren, free Roundstone turf and free potatoes from Dan O’Hara’s homestead – a visitors’ centre in the town.

A spokeswoman for Connemara Chamber of Commerce said the honour was in appreciation for his support for the region over the years.

“Ryan has aired three programmes from the area in recent years, one from Inishbofin, one from Leenane and one from Clifden.

“He is continually promoting and supporting the area as a great place to visit,” she said.

Speaking from a boat in Connemara yesterday, Tubridy said the honour was “wonderful, bizarre and great fun, though the lover of the place in me is little bit chuffed too”.

He said he visited Connemara as often as he could – once a month or every six weeks.

“It is bolt-hole of sanity for me, the quintessential sweeper away of cobwebs. It’s a little geographical addiction for me and I just every few weeks need my fix, and then I just need to get here, even if it’s just for 24 hours.”

Tubridy said his Connemara connections went back to his paternal great-grandparents who were teachers in the area, while a grandfather was a local TD and GP, his father was from Oranmore and his mother’s family was from Rossaveal.

The granting of the freedom of Connemara will take place on Saturday at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden at 7pm.

The ceremony will be followed by a trip around the town by a horse and trap led by bagpipes.