Gary Lightbody

Snow Patrol front man, Gary Lightbody, received the Freedom of Ards and North Down from Ards and North Down Borough Council in August 2022.* 

 The celebrated singer/song writer is from Bangor and has done much over the years to put his home city on the map; not least by helping to deliver three hugely successful outdoor concerts in the city's Ward Park (2007, 2010 and 2019).  

A multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, Gary Lightbody is known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol. The band has to date achieved 15 million global album sales, 5 UK Platinum Albums, and are Grammy, BRIT Award and Mercury Music Prize nominated.  

In 2018, Lightbody was awarded the NI Music Prize Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, recognising not only his contribution to music as an artist but his continued support of the Northern Ireland music scene. 

Bangor's most famous son was awarded the Freedom of the Borough by Ards and North Down Borough Council at a special civic ceremony at Bangor Castle on Tuesday 30th August 2022, officiated by the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Cllr Karen Douglas. Snow Patrol played a very special one-off acoustic concert on Bangor seafront to celebrate Gary's Award of Freedom of The Borough on the evening of Wednesday 31st August. 

* The decision to make Gary Lightbody a 'Freeman' was agreed at a meeting of the Council on Wednesday 23 October 2019, but the global pandemic of 2020 delayed the official conferment proceedings until summer 2022.