Irish HIV activist and former priest Bernárd Lynch receives Freedom of the City of London

The Clare native was recognised for “all the work that he’d done for those with HIV, the LGBT community, marginalised people, his work in New York and in charity”.

Ireland . Written by Alice Linehan.

Split screen of Bernárd Lynch and an overhead view of London city.
Image: The AIDS Memorial via Facebook (Left) Dominika Gregušová via Pexels (Right)

Bernárd Lynch was awarded the Freedom of the City of London on Friday, January 17. The former Irish priest was recognised for his work as an LGBTQ+ and HIV activist.

Born in Ennis, Co. Clare, Lynch emigrated to America in his 20s. He worked as a priest in New York during the height of the AIDS epidemic and became involved with an LGBTQ+ Catholic organisation called DignityUSA.

Later, he moved to the English capital, where he still lives, and set up a support group for gay priests. He is also known for being one of the first people to bring HIV/AIDS to national attention in Ireland, after talking about the issue on The Late Late Show in 1987.

Speaking at the Freedom of the City of London ceremony, Bernárd Lynch said he never would have imagined receiving such an accolade back in the ‘80s, describing it as an honour. 

“My work hasn’t always been the most popular, working with people with HIV/AIDS, and of course, one doesn’t do good in order to be popular… I represent not only myself but all those who worked in that field,” he said.

Vincent Dignam from the City Livery Company which nominated Lynch, explained that the activist was being awarded for “all the work that he’d done for those with HIV, the LGBT community, marginalised people, his work in New York and in charity”.

 

Whilst the Freedom of the City of London no longer carries many substantive rights and largely exists as a tradition, it is still seen as a prestigious honour. Previous recipients include Nelson Mandela, Ed Sheeran and Ireland’s Paschal Donohue.

Bernárd Lynch has been recognised for his activism on several other occasions, also receiving a Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D Higgins in 2019. He was also celebrated in Co Clare with a civic reception, the highest honour the county can bestow on him.

In 2022, the National Library of Ireland acquired Lynch’s personal collection, comprising over 50 years of letters, postcards, newspaper clippings and legal testimonies. 

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