Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has unanimously agreed to award Celtic manager Martin O’Neill the freedom of the borough. Councillors passed the motion at a special meeting on Thursday. The vote honours his long and successful career in football.
Martin O’Neill Awarded Freedom of Causeway Coast Borough
O’Neill comes from Kilrea in County Londonderry. The village sits inside the Causeway Coast and Glens council area. The freedom of the borough is the highest honour the council can give to a person, and it is rarely awarded.
Councillors also passed a second motion at the same meeting. They agreed to give the freedom of the borough to Coleraine Football Club. That made the meeting a double celebration of local sporting success, with two of the area’s best-known football names honoured on the same night.
Council Unanimously Approves Motion Proposed in Northern Ireland
Sinn Féin councillor Sean Bateson proposed the motion to honour O’Neill. Councillor Leanne Peacock seconded it. Every party on the council backed the motion, and it passed without a single vote against.
Alliance councillor Amy Mairs spoke during the debate. She told fellow councillors that “Martin’s journey is an inspirational example of what can be achieved.” Her comments reflected the tone of the wider discussion, with members from across the political spectrum praising O’Neill’s standing in the game.
The Coleraine FC award also drew warm words. Sinn Féin councillor Niamh Archibald said the club “is more than a football club” to the town. She added: “As someone from the town I know how important it is to have a sense of pride and belonging.”
UUP councillor John Wisener proposed the Coleraine motion. He pointed to the club’s “outstanding contribution to the borough.” Wisener praised “its sporting excellence and profound cultural and community impact, particularly in light of the club’s 100th anniversary in 2027.”
Nine Trophies with Celtic and a Distinguished Football Legacy
O’Neill has managed Celtic across several spells at the club. In that time he has won nine major trophies. That record puts him among the most successful managers in Celtic’s modern history. His achievements have stayed in the spotlight during recent scrutiny surrounding Celtic’s form.
His playing days were just as impressive. O’Neill played for Nottingham Forest and won back-to-back European Cups. He also won a First Division title with the club. Those wins made him one of the most successful players of his generation, and they remain a central part of the story councillors told on Thursday.
O’Neill also had a strong international career. He earned 64 caps for Northern Ireland and captained the team at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Years later, he managed the Republic of Ireland from 2013 to 2018. Under his charge, the team qualified for Euro 2016 and reached the last 16.
Council members pointed to this record when they explained their decision. They said his standing in the game made him a clear choice for the honour. Celtic fans watching upcoming European fixture decisions will know just how much weight that record carries, both at club level and on the international stage.
Formal Ceremony Timeline and Upcoming Civic Events
Thursday’s meeting settled the council’s decision to honour both O’Neill and Coleraine FC. No date has been set yet for a formal ceremony, and the council has not said how the honour will be presented.
Coleraine’s award carries extra meaning ahead of the club’s 100th anniversary in 2027. Wisener referred to that milestone directly when he made the case for the honour, tying the award to a wider celebration of the club’s history in the town.
A BBC News report first covered the council debate, along with the names of those who proposed each motion. The council is expected to confirm ceremony plans for both awards in the coming weeks, giving supporters a clearer sense of when the honour will be formally marked.
