McGee's recognition was intially proposed by SDLP councillor Martin Reilly, who hailed the impact that Derry Girls has had on the city. This motion was voted unamiously by members of Derrry City Council and Strabane District Council yesterday.
"I'm delighted that the council has agreed to put Lisa McGee’s name forward to receive the Freedom of the City", Mr Reilly said. "The next step is now to fix a date that suits Lisa and convene a dedicated special meeting of the council to confer the honour upon her".
"Since the announcement last week there has been a very positive public reaction to the proposal".
Reacting to the news, Lisa McGee who has become the first woman to receive such this award, said that she was "shocked", but "very honoured".
"Thank you so much!", McGee wrote. "Stunned and shocked and very honoured".
Speaking further, Martin Reilly also felt that Derry Girls helped the tourism sector for the city.
"People recognise the contribution Lisa’s work has made to the civic pride of this council area and the boost to the tourism sector that her writing has created", he added. "Lisa will be the first woman to receive the Freedom of the City of Derry so today’s vote marks a unique and important step in our civic history".
"So many formidable women have left their positive mark on this city over the generations but the Freedom of the City has been the preserve of men for far too long".
"I’m glad that my proposal this evening has ended that inequality and Lisa can be proud that her creation of Derry Girls has broken that mould".
