'Local boy makes good' - Gilbert O'Sullivan to be awarded the ...

O’Sullivan will be given the honour at a ceremony in the county today, surrounded by his family.

“It’s a lovely honour. Local boy makes good and it’s nice with my family all here,” O’Sullivan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“I think if my mother was here, it would have been fantastic for her but spiritually, she’ll be here,” O’Sullivan added.

A native of Waterford, O’Sullivan emigrated to the UK with his family when he was eight years old and has lived in southern England and Jersey ever since.

“It’s special because I am a local boy, although we left Ireland when I was eight years old but I always loved coming back.

“In the early days when we were in the UK with a large family, you didn’t really travel much. If you had a holiday, it was a day at the seaside.

“Once I went to London in 1967 to break into the music business, had a job, had a little bit of money, that’s when I really enjoyed coming back”.

Though Mr O’Sullivan said he visited his family in Ireland a number of times but by the 1970s things “became pretty chaotic” and made it harder for him to go home.

Gilbert’s career has spanned some five decades when he saw six of his songs earn a UK number one spot.

The 77 year-old, who continues to tour globally, came to fame in the 1970s and is well known for hits like ‘Alone Again (Naturally’), ‘Matrimony’ and ‘Clair’, which made him a household name.

The award is given to those whose achievements in areas including the arts, academia and sport have impacted Waterford and is the highest honour that the council can bestow.

In the ceremony, which will take place today, the singer will be joined by his family, which he said was another reason today was special.

“Everybody will be here. They’re coming from all over and that’s one of the nice things, the get together,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to have everyone together even if it's a brief meeting and they are very proud of me which is nice too.”

While similar awards in other cities give those honoured unusual permissions, O’Sullivan said he wasn’t sure what his honour meant but would hopefully find out tonight.

“Obviously this freedom of the city dates back centuries so I think if there is something involved it’ll be pretty prehistoric,” he said.

O’Sullivan is set to perform in Cork and Dublin and hopes his native Waterford will also be on the cards.

“Waterford is being lined up. We haven’t come back here in quite a long time so there are plans now for us to come back here so that’s being put together and I think it’s important that that does happen now,” he said.