Former US president Barack Obama to receive freedom of Dublin City on Thursday
Sarah Slater
Former US president Barack Obama is to receive the freedom of Dublin City on Thursday.
Dublin City councillors were briefed on Monday night that only the heads of political groupings within the chamber will be allowed to attend.
It remains unclear if the former US president will be accompanied by his wife Michelle as the invite made in 2017 was also extended to her by then lord mayor Brendan Carr.
Mr Obama will be visiting Dublin later this week for a sold-out event at the 3Arena as part of An Evening with President Barack Obama, In Conversation with Fintan O’Toole on Friday evening.
It is understood that councillors were told that security will be “very tight” around his visit. Mr Obama will be accompanied by a large contingent of Secret Service agents.
A source said that gardaí have not yet been briefed on final security arrangements for this visit.
,Mr Obama last visited Ireland in an official capacity on March 17th, 2011 when he spent a day in Dublin and Offaly.
