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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Phyl Cleere, John Cleere, Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick and Cllr Andrew McGuinness
John Cleere, founding member of the Kilkenny Roots Festival, has been officially recognised for his contribution to arts and culture in Kilkenny.
The popular local visionary was honoured at yesterday's meeting of Kilkenny County Council, where he was put forward for a civic award by local councillor Andrew McGuinness.
"These awards are rare and only presented to those who made an outstanding contribution in some way to civic life in Kilkenny city and county," Cllr McGuinness said.
"That is certainly the case with John Cleere who, this year, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of The Roots Festival which he founded in 1998.
"I’m sure when John was starting the festival in 1998 he didn’t realise how important it would become and the reputation it would gain around the world.
"While this award is specifically for John Cleere's founding of the Roots Festival, it would be remiss of me not to mention Cleere's Theatre on Parliament Street.
"Since John and his good wife Phyl opened it in 1988, ten years before he founded The Roots, it has been a hub of creativity, art, culture and music. It has been the venue that for over thrity years saw many local artists get their start in and so many local music lovers saw their first gigs in."
Speaking after his nomination, John Cleere expressed his gratitude alongside his wife Phyl and stated that what has pleased him the most is how The Roots has provided opportunities for local people in Kilkenny to ply their trade.
He described their time since moving back to Kilkenny from Dublin in 1988 as 'a long journey', one that has had both 'great highs and great lows'.
"Cleere's Bar and Theatre is now in the good hands of Johnny Holden and Paul McCabe," he added.
"Their enthusiasm is infectious and we’re well on track to have a very strong 25th year."
Kilkenny County Council Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick, Acting CEO Sean McKeown and councillors Martin Brett, Eugene McGuinness, John Coonan, Tomas Breathnach, Maria Dollard and John Brennan also paid tribute to John Cleere.
This year, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kilkenny Smithwick's Roots Festival, a seriously impressive line-up of Irish and international artists have been announced.
People are advised to get their tickets before they are gone because like all other years, almost everything sells out!
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