Call him Dr. Adrian

Dr. to Dr. Quinnipiac University President Dr. John Lahey, Adrian Flannelly, and Mark Thompson, the university’s executive vice president and provost.

By Irish Echo Staff

Adrian Flannelly has long been a man of letters, words being the product of his labor.

Now he has been honored for all those words over all those years.

Flannelly, chairman and CEO of Irish Radio Network USA, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Quinnipiac University at the School of Communications commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 22.

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Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs at Quinnipiac, read the citation for Flannelly.

She praised the influential broadcaster for championing the rights of the Irish in America as well as for his, “extraordinary journalism, selfless advocacy and love of - and loyalty to - two countries.”

“Your guest list has included Ireland’s prime ministers, Irish-American politicians, New York’s mayors and governors, as well as aspiring journalists, artists, writers, musicians and academics,” Bushnell said.

“It is no wonder that you are repeatedly cited as one of the Top 100 Irish Americans.”

For 46 years, according to a Quinnipiac release, Flannelly, who is a former Irish Echo Irish American of the Year, had elevated the art of conversation.

Stated the release: “His radio broadcast, the Adrian Flannelly Show,’ grew to become Irish Radio Network, the leading broadcasting voice of Ireland in America.

“Flannelly reaches as many as two million listeners with his mix of news, music, culture and heritage, helping them to reconnect with their homeland from whatever place they call home.

“Since the show became part of the Irish-American landscape, the profile of its community has grown stronger and more successful.

“Applying his leverage with mayors, governors and presidents, Flannelly has lobbied on behalf of his community; he helped to legalize thousands of undocumented Irish and advanced the discussions that brought peace to Northern Ireland. Key players came on air to discuss the peace process and rally Irish America for the cause.

“After helping to create the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed him Irish Cultural Liaison to City Hall.

“An exemplary Irish-American, Flannelly credits his wife and longtime business partner, Aine Sheridan, as his inspiration along with his four children and three grandchildren.”

 

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