Freedom of the City of Dublin was granted to both men and women on grounds of service [apprenticeship], birth [to the sons and some daughters of Free Citizens], marriage [sons-in-law of Free Citizens], Fine [payment], Grace Especial [honorary freedom] and Act of Parliament [to Encourage Protestant Strangers to Settle in Ireland].

Between 1691-1793 Roman Catholics were excluded. After the 1840 Municipal Corporations Reform Act the municipal franchise widened to include property owners of £10 per annum.
'Transcript of the roll of 1468-1485 and 1575-1774' edited by Gertrude Thrift, (Dublin, 1919) has Margaret Arthur, apprentice of Mathew Fouler, merchant admitted in 1476
Amy Archpold granted freedom in 1592 as the 'apprentice to Thomas Smith, now Mayor'.

Thomas Smith was an apothecary imported from England

Thomas Burgin, carpenter, was admitted in 1695 as the husband of Abigail Hartup, 'a free woman' and Dorcas Bowles, spinster was admitted by Fine and Special Grace, which is presumed to have been a kind of dowry given by a guardian to improve a girl's marriage prospects.

• Finance Search Repository Site
• Guilds Search Repository Site
• Marriage Search Repository Site
• Property Search Repository Site

For transcripts see also:

J.T. Gilbert, 'Historical and Municipal Documents of Ireland, 1172-1320', (London 1870), pages122-123.

Philomena Connolly and Geoffrey Martin (editors), 'The Dublin Guild Merchant Roll, c1190-1265' (Dublin 1992), Appendix II, pages 113-120.

J.T. Gilbert, 'Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin', Volume I (Dublin 1889).
See also Mary Clarke 'The Free Citizens of Dublin' in 'Familia' (Ulster Genealogical Review), volume 2, number 2 (1986).

Mary Clarke, 'Sources for the Genealogical Research in Dublin Corporation Archives', 'The Irish Genealogist', volume 7, number 2 (1987).