Liam Neeson is greeted with rapturous applause as he is welcomed back to his hometown in Northern Ireland.<br/> <br />Arriving in Ballymena where he first took to the stage, Neeson was in town to receive their highest award - the Freedom of the Borough.<br/> <br />Oscar-nominated for his lead role in Steven Spielberg's 'Schindler's List', Neeson expressed his gratitude for the hometown honour.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Liam Neeson, saying:<br/> <br />"To receive this extraordinary Academy Award- oops, sorry - wrong ceremony. To receive the Freedom of the Borough is especially significant to me because so many of my family and my old friends are here."<br/> <br />The actor later said he was still "99.9% Ballymena " in his dedication to hard work.<br/> <br />The former forklift truck operator started his acting career performing in local pantomimes before achieving global stardom in such films as 'Batman Begins' and 'Star Wars - Episode 1'
