In
ancient boroughs such as Dublin, a
royal charter established the privileges of the "burgesses" (or "citizens" in places like Dublin with
city status). Admission as a freeman or citizen was principally granted to members of the
Guilds of the City of Dublin and others by "special grace", as well as by marriage or descent from existing citizens. The wealthy could buy freedom by paying a "fine", and some of the
penal laws facilitated Protestant immigrants' becoming freemen. Ancient charters were superseded for municipal governance purposes by the
Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 and for all other non-ceremonial purposes by the
Local Government Act 2001. Nevertheless, ancient privileges and duties of freemen are sometimes cited in relation to the modern award. Rights included: • Exemption from
octroi charged on goods brought through the
city gates. •
Pasturage of sheep on city
commons, which included
College Green and
St Stephen's Green. This right was exercised as a
publicity stunt by
U2 members the day after their 2000 conferring. • The
right to vote in municipal elections, and in the
Irish parliamentary borough of Dublin (after the
Acts of Union 1800 in the
UK parliamentary borough of Dublin). Freedmen had a duty to defend the city and could be called into the
militia at short notice. == Honorary Freedom ==