Local councillor set to be President of Vintners Federation of Ireland

Cllr John Clendennen is to be the first Offaly President of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

Cllr Clendennen who runs Giltrap's Pub and Glamping Accommodation in Kinnitty and will officially take up his new role in May 2023.

He has been involved with the pub organisation for eight years and in management for two years during the height of the pandemic. The newly-elected President said: “It is a great honour for me and very humbling that the Vintner's Federation of Ireland have put their faith in me as president and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Cllr Clendennen continued: “I felt I had the competency and ability for the job. In my term as president I want to first acknowledge the innovation of the industry in the last 30 years. I am cautiously optimistic towards the summer.”

He feels that Irish pubs are very important to maintain local communities and highlighted the innovation of the industry in recent times through music, entertainment and the introduction of outdoor spaces. “It's a far cry from what pub life looked like 30 years ago. Covid 19 gave the pub sector two years of huge uncertainty, but highlighted the importance of the Irish pub as an integral part of the Irish social fabric."

Cllr Clendennen also acknowledged the challenges that the industry is currently facing such as fuel prices, staff recruitment and transport.

The local Fine Gael councillor holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies and Hotel Management from Shannon College of Hotel Management and a Masters Degree in Marketing from UCD.