Mary Crilly given Cork’s highest honour
The Freedom of the City of Cork has been conferred to the CEO of Sexual Violence Centre Cork for her support and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.
Mary Crilly, who has been helping victims for nearly 40 years, received the accolade today, Thursday, at a special meeting of Cork City Council attended by more than 250 guests.
It is the highest honour a city can bestow upon a citizen, and in her speech Ms Crilly said it was a special day, not just for her, but for all survivors of sexual violence in Ireland.
She said: “Today is not just about looking back and seeing what has been achieved in our city and in our country and what has not been achieved. It is also about looking forward. It is about moving forward to fight the fight and make a difference, and together we can make a difference.
“As a society we need to have a zero tolerance for sexual violence. We need to keep talking. We need to keep challenging. We need to change the culture that tolerates sexual violence.”
Having signed the Roll of Freedom parchment, Ms Crilly was presented with a cylindrical freedom casket. The parchment, which includes Ms Crilly’s name, signature and the formal citation setting out why she is being honoured, will now be bound into the ‘Register of Freemen from 1930-Present’ which is held at the City and County Archives in Blackpool.
Speaking at the special meeting, Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Mary Rose Desmond said: “Mary Crilly’s extraordinary resilience and fortitude has driven her work and the work of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre for almost 40 years. Not only have thousands benefitted from this work and dedication, but she has driven societal change in the way that sexual violence is now dealt with in this country.”
A specially commissioned piece of poetry ‘This Poem is a Zone of Sanctuary’, written in honour of Ms Crilly, was read at the ceremony by its author, poet Paula Meehan.
Music including renditions of ‘A Little Help from My Friends’, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Feeling Good’, was provided by the Defence Forces Band of the Southern Command and Cork-based soul and blues singer, Karen Underwood, accompanied by acclaimed pianist, John O’Brien.
Ms Crilly is a founding member and CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, and as a feminist activist, has played a major role in changing the response to male violence against women over the last four decades.
She is noted particularly for her work in the areas of sexual violence, domestic violence, sex trafficking, female genital mutilation and stalking.
Mr Crilly’s work varies from supporting victims in court, or at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, to visiting schools and colleges, to working with government, statutory and voluntary agencies to change and influence social policy.
She received a Pride of Cork Award in March 2022 in recognition of her work in the centre.