Overview

• Lord Mayor Ray McAdam hosted a brief ceremony at the Mansion House where Obama signed the Roll of Honour and accepted the city’s highest civic award.
• The Independent Group and People Before Profit–Solidarity’s Conor Reddy refused to attend, citing Obama-era military aid to Israel and the expansion of drone strikes.
• McAdam defended the conferment as following the will of the council and recognizing leadership that, he said, used conviction and words to change lives.
• Obama thanked Dublin for the honour, invoking Irish–American ties and urging continued work toward a more just, equal and free world.
• City officials said the event preceded a sold-out 3Arena conversation with Fintan O’Toole, and the Government was represented at the ceremony by Minister Paschal Donohoe.