London Kerry Person of the Year Winner Announced
John Griffin has been selected as this year’s recipient of the prestigious London Kerry Person of the Year award.
Mr Griffin, whose father hails from Glenbeigh, Co. Kerry, was selected by the Kerry Association London’s Person of the Year sub–committee in recognition of his life time achievements and great support of the Irish at both home and abroad.
Mr Griffin is Chair of Irish TV, launched globally in May 2014, which focuses on producing 50 community based programmes that are broadcast across Europe and the USA. Mr Griffin believes that the introduction of this powerful Irish television station will improve tourism to Ireland and promote it as a sanctuary for every generation of the Irish Diaspora.
Speaking of his success, John said: “I started from nothing. I was in Ireland from the age of one to the age of nine. I went to school in Mayo; I went to school every day with no shoes on. We moved to the UK and I failed my 11 plus. When it came to my GCSEs and A–Levels I went to Ireland on holiday and contracted TB. I spent 18 months of my life recovering from that and did not sit a single exam. We had no money growing up and I started my business with one car eventually developing it into a company with 4000 vehicles.”
John was accepted into the inner sanctum of British tradition when he was recently awarded the freedom of London City and is unfazed by rubbing shoulders with the likes of the British Prime Minister David Cameron.
John is very much committed to his Kerry roots and has previous donated a large sum of money to the sports centre in Glenbeigh, as well as land to facilitate an expansion of their grounds. Mr Griffin was last year presented with a plaque at the sports facility to recognise his ongoing support.
Mr Griffin is also a dedicated supporter of Irish culture in the UK and is the main sponsor of the Return to Camden festival which is held at various venues in Camden between the 22nd and 26th of October.
John is an ambassador for instigating the introduction of fibre optic cabling to Ireland, which he believes will feature the country as an IT haven for the likes of Google and Yahoo and in turn supporting the recovery of the Irish economy.
Mr Griffin joins the alumni of highly regarded Kerry people, like the late John Murphy and current KAL chairman Dan Tim O’Sullivan, who have supported and employed a vast amount of Kerry people in the capital throughout the years.
On hearing of his award, John Griffin said: “My father would have been so proud. I am delighted and it’s now my time to stand up and support this fantastic organisation. It’s a great honour that has tremendous meaning for me as this committee not only recognises who I am but what I have done. I am prepared to support the Kerry Association as much as I can throughout this year and be the person they need me to be.”
John will be presented with his award at the Kerry Association’s annual dinner dance at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood on the 24th of October from last year’s winner, Shelagh O’Connor of Brosna.
For bookings and enquires please contact the association’s Secretary Tara Cronin on +44 7939 017022 or any committee member.
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For further information, please contact:
Tara Cronin
KAL Secretary
M: 079 39017022
E: tara_cronin@msn.com
