Theatre director Hynes receives freedom of Galway city

Theatre director Garry Hynes has joined Pope John Paul II, Hillary Clinton, John F Kennedy and John Hume in receiving the freedom of Galway city.

Ms Hynes, who co-founded the Druid Theatre company, is the first Irish woman to receive the accolade.

She was honoured at a reception in Galway last night for her huge contribution to theatre over the past 30 years.

Having made history in 1998 by becoming the first ever woman to win a Tony Award, Ms Hynes said she was thrilled to become the 25th person to get the freedom of Galway City:

"Other honours are great, but to be honoured by one's own people in one's own place - there's no greater happiness than that," she said.