Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee becomes first woman awarded The Freedom of Derry

Beloved screenwriter, Lisa McGee has become the first woman to receive the prestigious Freedom of Derry.

The Derry writer’s parents, husband, and two sons, were in attendance at the short ceremony.

Speaking on her acceptance of the award, McGee had this to say: "This is really surreal. I still can't believe it." "This is just such a privilege and honour.”

The 42-year-old continued, "I'm immensely proud to be from Derry. As a writer working in television, an industry that's notoriously tough to break into and to survive in, being from Derry has always felt like my superpower. It's just steeped in story and full of storytellers. I always thought it was an unfair advantage.”

Gushing about her hometown and heritage, McGee continued to express her pride in her city, "It's just been my greatest privilege to be able to write Derry Girls, to be able to showcase our amazing sense of humour and warmth and humanity.” “And I'm going to continue writing about the place I come from, the place I love," she added.

Councillors of the Derry City and Strabane District Council praised the Derry screenwriter’s merits and the importance of her highlighting the Good Friday Agreement.

Martin Reilly, SDLP councillor who proposed the award, explained how the show resonated with people.

"Through her work, people have seen the warmth and the charm of our city, the sense of friendship, the sense of families pulling together and dealing with adversity, all delivered through various strong female viewpoints - from the schoolgirls, the mothers, the aunts, and of course, as Martin Scorsese pointed out last week, the nuns as well."

The success and popularity of the show has spanned internationally, receiving global acclaim and even earning a place on the watchlist of some of Hollywood’s A-listers, such as legendary director, Martin Scorsese.

McGee joins the likes of John Hume, Phil Coulter and Winston Churchill as recipient of the Derry city’s highest accolade.

My parents giving their classic “ I’ll stand by my daughter no matter what she’s done” pose. pic.twitter.com/utr0g7e0uH

— Lisa McGee (@LisaMMcGee) December 5, 2022

Read Lisa McGee's interview with Hotpress' Stuart Clark here as she discussed Sister Michael, the series' finale, and the rollercoaster of emotions that came with it.