Donegal County Council is expected to afford the Freedom of Donegal to the ‘King of Tory’, Patsy Dan Rodgers.
At its monthly meeting on Monday, Councillors are set to unanimously pass a motion to bestow the Freedom of the County upon the 74-year-old.
The motion asks that the honour be given ‘in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the preservation and promotion of all aspects of Island life, and to honour the many years of service given to his beloved Tory Island.’
Patsy Dan was one of the leading campaigners against the Government’s plans to resettle the islanders on the Donegal mainland following storms in 1974 that had cut off Tory Island for nearly two months.
He is well known in the promotion of music and art on the island. He was one of the original members of the Tory School of Art and is regularly accompanied by his accordion.
The contribution made by Patsy Dan as an ambassador for the island has received widespread appreciation.
He has been recognised by proclamation of the City of New York and he received an honorary Masters degree from the University of Ulster, in 1997.
Patsy Dan has been the King of Tory since 1993. He greets each passenger ferry that lands and welcomes visitors ‘Fáilte romhat’.
Likewise, those departing the island are bade a personal ‘Slán go foill’.
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