Gilbert O'Sullivan has said it's a "lovely honour" to be awarded the Freedom of Waterford, adding that "it's special because I'm a local boy".
The 77-year-old singer songwriter was given the award at Waterford Council Chamber this evening.
Speaking in the chamber after receiving the award, Mr O'Sullivan said that it was a "great honour to receive this".
"I’m proud of my roots, I always say that in any interview I have ever given around the world."
The musician joins singers Val Doonican and Brendan Bowyer of the Royal Showband and actress Anna Manahan in receiving the honour.
"It's special because I'm a local boy," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland this morning. "Although we left Ireland when I was eight years old, I always loved coming back," he said.
The fact that he was going to be surrounded by his family while receiving the Freedom of Waterford means the world to him.
He said: "Everybody will be here, they're coming from all over, that's one of the nice things, that they'll all be here.
"It's wonderful to have everybody together, even if it's a brief meeting. And they're very proud of me which is kind of nice too."
The three-time winner of the Ivor Novello Award is best known for hits Nothing Rhymed, Clair, Get Down and Alone Again (Naturally).
O'Sullivan is set to play two concerts in Cork's Opera House and Dublin's National Concert Hall this September, and told Morning Ireland that an extra gig in Waterford is being "lined up".
"We haven't come back here in quite a long time, so there are plans for us to come back here, that's being put together," he shared.
"And I think it's important that that does happen now."
