By Sean Moriarty

Well-known Killarney woman Tara Cronin has been granted the freedom of the City of London.

PRESENTATION: Lord Mayor of the City Dublin native Vincent Keaveny presents Tara Cronin with her Freedom of the City of London award.

The Freedom of the City of London started around 1237 and developed into freedom or right to trade.

In 1835 eligibility for the freedom of the city was extended to anyone who lived in, worked in or had a strong connection to London.

These days it is largely ceremonial and bestowed upon people in recognition for their personal achievements and charitable work.

London-based Aghadoe native Tara, is the Events and Fundraising Manager with ICAP, an Irish Mental Health charity in London. She was the founder of the London-version of the Darkness into Light charity walk and is the former long-serving secretary of the Kerry Association.

She received the Freedom of the City of London from Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny who is head of the City of London Corporation and the first Irish Lord Mayor of the city in 850 years.

She is also a board member of the Irish Women’s Network.

Tara Cronin was presented with the award in the Mansion House in the City of London.

She will be amongst the first recipients to have King Charles III on her award.

She was joined on the day by her parents Jerry and Margaret and brother Eoghan and a group of close friends that made the trip from Killarney.

“I feel extremely proud to have been awarded the Freedom of the City of London by the Lord Mayor of City of London in such a historic building. It is a special day and so privileged to be able to share with my parents Margaret and Jerry and my brother Eoghan family and friends,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

The celebration continued in the nearby Rising Sun, a renowned Kerry pub in the heart of the city and the following day at Corrigan’s Mayfair where Tara previously worked under Michelin star Chef Richard Corrigan.