Gary Lightbody has been proposed to receive the highest honour of his home borough in Northern Ireland.
The Snow Patrol frontman’s name has been put forward to become the newest Freeman of Ards and North Down.
The Bangor-born singer/songwriter was praised by his proposer, Councillor Karen Douglas, for putting his home town on the map.
Ms Douglas, who is the current deputy mayor and a member of the Alliance Party, praised Lightbody’s contributions.
“We are recommending this award in recognition of the outstanding contribution Gary has made in our local area; both as a musician of international renown and as a champion of charitable causes, in particular mental health awareness and support for grassroots music makers in Northern Ireland,” she said.
Ulster Unionist councillor Craig Blaney will second the proposal.
“As a council we are very proud of all that Gary has achieved, and continues to achieve, in the field of music but also as both an entrepreneur and charity ambassador,” he said.
“Councillor members from all parties are supportive of the proposal and we know that people from across the borough, and especially those in Bangor, will be delighted that we are proposing to give him this award.”
Ards and North Down Borough Council is proposing to award its highest honour – the Freedom of the Borough – to @snowpatrol front man, Gary Lightbody.
The proposal will be discussed at a Council meeting on Wednesday 23 October. pic.twitter.com/SLSmUzEThK
— ArdsandNorthDown (@ANDborough) October 16, 2019
The council will vote on the proposal on October 23.
If approved, Lightbody will be the second recipient of this honour from Ards and North Down Borough Council since it was formed in 2015 following a reorganisation of local government.
The first recipient was Health and Social Care Staff in 2018.
The freedom of the borough honour dates back to the 1600s and is the highest plaudit a borough council can bestow.