The Adrian Flannelly Show Audio Recordings

Call Number

AIA.089

Dates

1976-2001, inclusive

; 1999-2000, bulk

Creator

Flannelly, Adrian

Flannelly, Adrian (Role: Donor)

Irish Radio Network USA

Extent

5.96 Linear Feet

in 5 flat boxes and 2 cassette boxes

Extent

327 audiocassettes

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Adrian Flannelly (1942-2024) was an Irish broadcaster; and the Chairman and CEO of Irish Radio Network USA. He hosted The Adrian Flannelly Show, a weekly radio program he began in 1969, which consisted of a combination of music; international and national news; cultural news; economic analysis and commentary; and interviews with writers, musicians, politicians, and other public figures. The Adrian Flannelly Show Audio Recordings consists of audiocassette recordings of his weekly Irish American talk radio program, dated approximately 1976-2001; and additional recordings, dated approximately 1983-2000.

Biographical Note

Adrian Flannelly (1942-2024) was an Irish broadcaster and the Chairman and CEO of Irish Radio Network USA. He was a native of Attymass, Co. Mayo in Ireland and emigrated to the United States in 1959 at seventeen years old. He hosted The Adrian Flannelly Show, a weekly radio program he began in 1969, which consisted of a combination of music; international and national news; cultural news; economic analysis and commentary; and interviews with writers, musicians, politicians, and other public figures. Flannelly used his radio show to highlight social and political issues concerning Irish and Irish American communities, including United States immigration reform; the Donnelly, Berman and Morrison visas programs for undocumented Irish youth; and and the conflict in Northern Ireland. He served as the Irish Cultural Liaison for the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City and assissted in the the construction of the memorial. Flannelly also received numerous honors from Irish and Irish American organizations in the greater New York City area including the Irish Echo's Irish American of the Year award. In 2016, was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University; and in 2021, Flannelly was awarded the Irish government's highest honor, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, acknowledging his work in Irish Community Support.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into two series:

Series I: The Adrian Flannelly Show

Series II: Additional Tapes

Within each series, the episodes have been arranged in chronological order by air date. Undated material was arranged in alphabetical order when possible.

Scope and Contents

The Adrian Flannelly Show Recordings consists of audiocassette recordings donated by Adrian Flannelly. The materials in the collection date from 1976 to 2001 with the bulk of materials dating 1999-2000. Series I: The Adrian Flannelly Show contains 395 episodes of Flannelly's weekly Irish American talk radio program, dated approximately 1976-2001. Flannelly's show consists of a combination of music; international and national news; cultural news; and economic analysis and commentary. Topics including immigration reform, visas for undocumented Irish youth, and the conflict in Northern Ireland were discussed frequently. The show also features interviews with writers, actors, musicians, politicians, and other public figures.

Series II: Additional Tapes, dated approximately 1983-2000, contains sound checks, event coverage, interviews, religious recordings, and music. These were donated by Flannelly, but their association with his radio program is unclear.

Subjects

Genres

Radio programs.

People

Flannelly, Adrian (Role: Donor)

Topics

Irish Americans -- Ethnic identity.; Irish Americans -- History.; Irish Americans -- New York (N.Y.); Irish Americans -- New York (State) -- New York -- Political activity.; Irish Americans -- Social life and customs.; Northern Ireland -- History -- 1968-1998; Peace movements -- Northern Ireland; Emigration and immigration law -- United States.; Radio broadcasters

Donors

Flannelly, Adrian

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; The Adrian Flannelly Show Audio Recordings; AIA 089; box number; folder number or item identifier; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Adrian Flannelly in March 2020. The accession number associated with this gift is 2020.020.

Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures

Access to audiovisual materials in this collection is available through digitized access copies. Researchers may view an item's original container, but the media themselves are not available for playback because of preservation concerns. Materials that have already been digitized are noted in the collection's finding aid and can be requested in our reading room.

Appraisal

In 2021, seven duplicate tapes were deaccessioned from the collection.

In October 2025, 103 audiocassettes affected by mold were deaccessioned after digitization. Two blank tapes were also deaccessioned.

Collection processed by

Rachel Searcy and Aki Snyder

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-02 19:59:09 UTC.

Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning, 69 tapes with evidence of mold or other damage were identified and physically separated from the remainder of the collection. For these recordings, the cases and liner notes with descriptive information were photocopied, discarded, and the tapes were housed in acid-free photo envelopes. Materials were described on the collection-level.

The Adrian Flannelly Show Audio Recordings was processed and described by an archivist in the fall of 2021. At the time of processing, an additional 37 tapes with evidence of mold were identified; their descriptive information was recorded; and then the tapes were physically separated from the collection and delivered to New York University's Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department for further treatment. Duplicate tapes were also removed from the collection. The remaining tapes were rehoused in new archival cassette cases (when needed), had media labels adhered to the cases, and placed in acid-free boxes. Original cassette titles were retained, when available.

In Fall 2025, episode descriptions and titles were updated, when possible. Titles in Series I were standardized to reflect episode air dates. Some recordings that had been placed in Series II were moved to Series I once updated descriptions revealed they were episodes of The Adrian Flannelly Show.

Revisions to this Guide

November 2025: Updated by Natalia Medero to state that some audiovisual materials have been digitized and are accessible to patrons.

November 2025: Episodes were retitled by Minami Matsumoto, episode summaries were added by Natalia Medero, and episodes were rearranged by Aki Snyder.

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives

Series I: The Adrian Flannelly Show, 1976-2001, inclusive

Extent

256 audiocassettes in 4 flatboxes

Scope and Contents

The Adrian Flannelly Show consisted of a combination of music; international and national news; cultural news; and economic analysis and commentary. Topics including community events; American-Irish relations; immigration reform; the Donnelly, Berman and Morrison visas programs for undocumented Irish youth; and the conflict in Northern Ireland were discussed frequently. The show also featured interviews with writers such as Malachy McCourt; actors such as Maureen O'Hara, Jim Flavin, and Ray Collins; movie producers such as Hal Roach; musicians such as Mickey Carton, Brendan Shine, Frank Patterson, Patrick (Pat) McGuigan, Dermot O'Brien, Paddy Noonan, Freddie White, and Gay McIntyre; politicians such as Pádraig MacKernan, Daithí Ó Ceallaigh, Mario Cuomo, and Charles Haughey; and other public figures such as Frank Durkin, Patrick Peyton, and Kevin O'Connor. This series contains 256 audiocassette recordings of Flannelly's radio program.

1976, 1976

Scope and Contents

Topics discussed in this episode include Irish Christmas and Fintan's House.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 62 minutes

Audio

1976

November 1977, 1977

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 62 minutes

Audio

November 1977

September 1978, 1978

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 60 minutes

Audio

September 1978

September 23-24, 1978, 1978

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 58 minutes

Audio

September 23-24, 1978

Duration: 126 minutes

Audio

1983

April 30 - May 1, 1983, 1983

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0004 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 89 minutes

Audio

April 30 - May 1, 1983

June 4, 1983, 1983

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 90 minutes

Audio

June 4, 1983

December 10, 1983, 1983

July 1984, 1984

Box: 4, audiocassette: 089.0265 (Material Type: Audio)

Scope and Contents

February 9, 1985, 1985

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0020 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 93 minutes

Audio

February 9, 1985

February 10, 1985, 1985

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 55 minutes

Audio

February 10, 1985

February 23, 1985, 1985

Duration: 87 minutes

Audio

May 18, 1985

June 1, 1985, 1985

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0037 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 93 minutes

Audio

June 1, 1985

June 2, 1985, 1985

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0038 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 61 minutes

Audio

June 2, 1985

June 8, 1985, 1985

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 63 minutes

Audio

June 8, 1985

June 15, 1985, 1985

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0040 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 93 min

Audio

June 15, 1985

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 29 minutes

Audio

August 25, 1985

October 6, 1985, 1985

This episode features singer Guss Hayes.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 95 minutes

Audio

January 1986

January 11, 1986, 1986

April 12, 1986, 1985

Box: 1, audiocassette: 089.0075 (Material Type: Audio)

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Audio

June 28, 1986

July 1986, 1986

Scope and Contents

This episode features musicians Frank Noland and Mattie Connolly.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 90 minutes

Audio

July 1986

September 1986, 1986

Box: 4, audiocassette: 089.0277 (Material Type: Audio)

Scope and Contents

This episode features Irish Fine Gael politician, Peter Barry. Topics discussed include the Stockton Wing Band.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 89 minutes

Audio

September 1986

December 1986, 1986

Scope and Contents

This episode features actor Jim Flavin and pub owner Eamonn Doran. Topics discussed include the visa lottery.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 95 minutes

Audio

December 1986

December 6, 1986, 1986

June 18, 2000

Scope and Contents

This episode features television personality Kevin O'Connor. Topics discussed include music and the New York lottery.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 121 minutes

Audio

January 6, 2001 - Part 1

January 6, 2001 - Part 2, 2001

Box: 4, audiocassette: 089.0292 (Material Type: Audio)

Scope and Contents

Topics in this episode include the announcement of the New York lottery winner.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 68 minutes

Audio

January 6, 2001 - Part 2

No Air Date

Adrian Flannelly and B. Maxwell, undated

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 22 minutes

Audio

Adrian Flannelly and B. Maxwell

Adrian Flannelly Interview, undated

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 33 min.

Audio

Adrian Flannelly Interview

Adrian Flannelly and J. Roach (Ancient Order of Hibernians), undated

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 22 min.

Audio

Adrian Flannelly and J. Roach (Ancient Order of Hibernians)

Anglo-Irish Agreement Updates - Interview with Garret FitzGerald, undated

Scope and Contents

This episode features former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald. Topics discussed include the Anglo-Irish Agreement updates.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 15 minutes

Audio

Anglo-Irish Agreement Updates - Interview with Garret FitzGerald

Duration: 72 min.

Audio

Noon

Language of Materials

Hungarian

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 30 min.

Audio

Religious service

Subway Series Coverage / Irish Business Organization Event Report and Interview, October 21, 2000

Box: 4, audiocassette: 089.0287 (Material Type: Audio)

Scope and Contents

Topics discussed in this episode include the World Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees (also known as the "Subway Series") and the Irish Business Organization Event report.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Duration: 120 min

Audio

Subway Series Coverage / Irish Business Organization Event Report and Interview

Duration: 72 minutes

Audio

Unidentified Musical Performance