Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi has been invited to officially visit the city and receive the Freewoman of Galway honour, originally given to her in 2005.
Ms Suu Kyi, who was, until recently living under house arrest in Burma, was originally conferred with the honour five years ago, but was unable to receive it due to her incarceration by the Burmese military.
Following her release, calls have come from both the Labour party and Independent councillor Catherine Connolly to invite the pro-democracy leader to Galway and grant her the honour with a formal reception.
At Monday’s city council meeting Labour councillor and Galway West candidate Derek Nolan called for the Department of Foreign Affairs to invite Ms Suu Kyi to Ireland. The motion was passed.
“This situation needs to be remedied,” said Cllr Nolan. “Aung San Suu Kyi has been a global icon of heroic and peaceful resistance in the face of military repression, and she takes her rightful place in history among Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi. I hope that at some time she will be able to accept our invitation.”
