Popular Kilkenny vintner takes up the helm at VFI

Popular Kilkenny vintner, Pat Crotty has taken up his new role as Chief Executive of the Vintner’s Federation of Ireland.

“I am delighted to take up the role. I officially started in late September but this was my first week on my own on the job with no safety nets,” he said.

The affable Kilkenny man, who owns the award-winning gastro pub, Paris Texas on High Street is enthusiastic about his new position but adds that there is ‘a huge amount to learn’.

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“The biggest challenge is to get the government to recognise that we are not a bottomless pit and they can’t keep hacking away at our profitability,” he said adding that while pubs remain one of the country’s top tourist attractions they are not being given adequate supports.

“Less and less pubs are able to make a profit and that is what is needed in business,” he said adding that between 100 to 150 pubs are permanently shutting their doors each year. Mr Crotty also described the current level of excise duty on alcohol as ‘ridiculously high’ and called for a reduction.

Meanwhile VFI President John Clendennen wished the Kilkenny man every success in his new position,

“The VFI is delighted to welcome Pat Crotty to the Federation as our new CEO. Pat brings a wealth of experience to the role, including as publican of the hugely successful Paris Texas in Kilkenny. We’re looking forward to working with Pat over the coming years and I wish him every success in his new position.”