Adrian Flannelly - The Irish Examiner USA's Man Of The Year 2012

The Irish Examiner Newspaper is pleased to announce that we are honoring Adrian Flannelly as our Man of the Year for 2012.

At a reception, to be held at Eamonn's Bar and Grill on 45th Street on Wednesday June 20, we will congratulate Adrian on all his hard work and accomplishments over the years.

Described as "the Dean of Irish Radio in the U.S." by the New York Daily News; "a promoter of incredible charm and energy" by New York Newsday; "an entertainer, a lobbyist and an entrepreneur" by The Irish Times and "an avuncular host" by The New York Times, Adrian has been a major force on the Irish cultural and political scene in the United State since 1970.

He has dedicated his career as a broadcast journalist, community leader and promoter, to illuminating issues of concern to the American Irish community.

Using his popular radio shows as a conduit for change, Flannelly helped reform visa lotteries and US immigration laws, legalizing thousands of undocumented Irish in the '80s and '90s.

Four decades and thousands of interviews onwards, Adrian continues to broadcast live from his prestigious Madison Avenue studios and Irish Radio Network USA.

In 2000 the Irish Government appointed Flannelly as U.S. Representative on its Task Force on "Policy towards Emigrants"; an initiative of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

He serves as New York State Irish Cultural Liaison for the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City, adjacent to Ground Zero. (The recreated famine cottage and half-acre field was transported from Flannelly's native parish of Attymass, Co. Mayo) - a major attraction for millions of visitors to NYC since 2001.

In 2005 he was appointed Chief Advisor for Irish Tourism by NYC & Company - NYC's official tourism board.

Referring to Adrian Flannelly as his "good friend", Mayor Bloomberg appointed him Irish Cultural Liaison to City Hall in January 2007.

Adrian organized the Mayor's three trips to Ireland: Ballymote, Co. Sligo for Memorial Dedication to New York's Fighting 69th in August '06; Knock Airport, Co. Mayo to launch the first transatlantic direct flight to New York in January '07 and as a delegate to the US Northern Ireland Investment Conference in Belfast in May '08.

Adrian also facilitated Mayor Bloomberg's first visit to Northern Ireland where the New York City Mayor was keynote speaker.

Publisher of the Irish Examiner USA newspaper and Irish Connections Magazine Paddy McCarthy said: "To listen to this man every week is a pleasure because it's as if you were listening to the radio back in Ireland.

"Adrian Flannelly is a legend and to honor him as The Irish Examiner USA newspaper's Man of the Year is a pleasure for us and everyone else as well."