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Broadcaster Charlie Bird was honoured to receive the Freedom of Wicklow this week.
He was awarded the coveted honour at a special ceremony in the Wicklow County Council buildings on Monday evening.
Charlie is the third person ever to be given the Freedom of Wicklow award.
Boxer Katie Taylor was given the Freedom of County Wicklow in 2011, and actor Daniel Day-Lewis was the first person to be conferred in 2009.
Today Charlie Bird was given the Freedom of County Wicklow.
It was granted to him for his work & outstanding achievements in the field of broadcasting & journalism, more recently in his campaigning and raising funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association & Pieta House. pic.twitter.com/uMSqenXT8D
— John Brady TD (@johnbradysf) September 26, 2022
He was honoured for his outstanding achievements in journalism, and more recently in his campaigning for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
After being diagnosed with MND last year, he climbed Croagh Patrick in May with thousands of others which raised over €3 million for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Freedom of Wicklow, following in the footsteps of Daniel Day Lewis and the great Katie Taylor. I am accepting this amazing award on behalf of everyone across Ireland and abroad who helped to make ‘ClimbwithCharlie’ the outstanding success it was. So thank you to the people of Wicklow for extending the hand of friendship,” Charlie said.
At the end of the ceremony, the 73-year-old was given a commemorative sculpture of a bronze quill, eagle, and key, created by Wicklow-based artist and blacksmith Michael Calnan.
