The Kinnitty publican will officially take up the position next year.
The Vintners' Federation of Ireland is set to have an Offaly president for the first time.
John Clendennen has been named president-elect of the pub trade organisation, which boasts over 4,000 members.
John - who runs Giltrap's Pub in Kinnitty and is also a Fine Gael councillor - will officially take up the position in May 2023.
Honoured & humbled to be elected President Elect @VFIpubs Covid19 gave pub sector 2 years of huge uncertainty, but highlighted the importance of the Irish pub as an integral part of Irish social fabric. Looking forward to the challenge & representing pubs across Ireland. https://t.co/Kk1AVxKBxF
— Cllr. John Clendennen 🇪🇺🇮🇪 (@johnclendennen) April 7, 2022
He intends to keep innovation at the heart of the industry as he tries to maximise its potential in the years ahead.
Speaking to Ronan Berry on Taking Care of Business, John says there's a cautious optimism within the industry post-pandemic, but addressing the staff shortage will be a main focus during his tenure:
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