The honour will be conferred on Friday January 23
Ards and North Down Borough Council will confer its highest civic honour, the Freedom of the Borough, upon Rhys McClenaghan BEM, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in sport and his exceptional contribution to the borough.
The decision was confirmed at a full council meeting in 2024, following a cross-party motion proposed by DUP Alderman Stephen McIlveen and seconded by Independent Unionist Councillor Steven Irvine.
Born and raised in Newtownards, Rhys has become a global sporting superstar as an artistic gymnast, while remaining deeply connected to his roots. He has competed internationally both for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his generation.
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His career highlights include winning the Olympic gold medal at the pommel horse at Paris 2024, when he became the first gymnast to win an Olympic medal for the Republic of Ireland. Other highlights involve becoming World Champion in 2022 and 2023, European Champion in 2018, 2023, 2024 and winning the Commonwealth gold medal in 2018.
Rhys is the only gymnast in history to hold European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic titles on a single apparatus, cementing his status as one of the sport’s greatest ever pommel horse specialists.
The “Freeman” tradition comes from medieval times when it granted privileges such as the right to trade and own property, but today it is a symbolic honour recognising significant community service or distinction.
The council will confer its highest honour on Rhys McClenaghan in a formal ceremony for invited guests on Friday January 23. As part of the celebrations, there will be a public display of Rhys’ skills on Sunday January 25 at Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex, Newtownards.
Further information regarding ticketing and full event details are on the council website and social media platforms.
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