Friday, January 17, 2025

Irish activist Bernárd Lynch to receive Freedom of the City of London

Renowned Irish HIV/AIDS activist and former priest, Bernárd Lynch, will receive the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony later today.

Born in Ennis, Co Clare, Mr Lynch rose to prominence while working as a Catholic priest in New York as the AIDS epidemic took hold.

He has been recognised for his work on numerous occasions, receiving the Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D Higgins in 2019.

Mr Lynch was nominated for the Freedom of the City of London for his charitable and campaigning work to support LGBTQ+ people and those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Speaking ahead of receiving the recognition, he said that it was an "honour".

He said that the idea of receiving such a recognition back when he was working directly with people with AIDS in the 1980s in New York would have been the "furthest thing" from his imagination.

After his time in New York, Mr Lynch moved to London where he set up a support group for gay priests.

"I've always put whatever recognitions I've got in the context of not just me but many people. In this case, Irish people who have given such service to London and wherever in the world they go", he explained.