Kilkenny Cats, Free @ Last
OK, it’s been silent here for over a year, that needs…fixing, perhaps.
And this story, about 2 guys awarded the moral equivalent of the keys to the city of Kilkenny, Ireland seemed perfect for kicking off some chatter.
One awardee is a hurling coach, the other’s a retired speaker of the Dail. The two have been given “the freedom of the city” and are entitled “Freemen of Kilkenny.”
Ok, so the frack what? There’s some historical interest there, since the privileges conferred date back to the 13th century city charter. A freeman gets to “drive his sheep or cattle through the main street.”
Ah, but down the centuries, somebody/somebodies bethought themselves “uh…sheep/cattle, whatever, how do we update this thing and really reward a Freeman?” To quote:
The honour also entitles the freeman the right to be put in a cab and taken home if he is found drunk on the street by a policeman.
Sweet Jesu! Immune to public intoxication charges, and it’s up to the copper who’d otherwise arrest me to get me a cab! That’s freedom, it is.
