Traffic in Belfast came to a halt on Sunday morning as Dame Mary Peters herded sheep along Donegall Place.
Dame Mary, who won a gold medal in the 1972 Munich Games, has been granted the Freedom of the City of Belfast for her role in the promotion of sport and mentoring young people.
“Sadly, it is a myth that being given the Freedom of the City entitles me to graze sheep on the front lawn of City Hall, but that hasn’t stopped us today,” Dame Mary joked.
“These days the title is purely honorary but that doesn’t detract in any way from this being the highest possible civic honour,” she added. Lord Mayor Gavin Robinson said the Freedom of the City was a “well deserved accolade for one of our best known Olympians who has a special place in the hearts of people across all parts of Belfast and beyond”.
The Freedom ceremony will take place on the evening of May 8 in the Great Hall of City Hall.
Earlier in the day 300 children, from schools and organisations across the city, will participate in pentathlon-style sports on the front lawns of the City Hall.
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