{{short description|Irish raconteur and print journalist with The Irish Times}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Arthur Quinlan | honorific_suffix = | native_name = Ardúr Ó Cúinnlóin | native_name_lang = Irish | image = <!-- just the name, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets --> | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|01|15}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2012|12|22|1921|01|15}} | death_place = | other_names = Mr. Limerick <br/> Uncle Arthur | citizenship = | education = B. A. English literature and history | alma_mater = University College Dublin (UCD) | occupation = Journalist | years_active = 1945–2000 | employer = ''The Irish Times'' | spouse = Vera Quinlan | children = 3}}
'''Arthur Quinlan''' (15 January 1921 – 22 December 2012)<ref name=known_for_interviews>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=McNally|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/journalist-known-for-interviews-with-royalty-and-leaders-1.5615|title=Journalist known for interviews with royalty and leaders|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=29 December 2012|accessdate=14 May 2013}}</ref> was an Irish<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/><ref name=legend_dies/> raconteur and print journalist with ''The Irish Times''. Known for his interviews with politicians, royalty and film stars in a career spanning more than 50 years, he was widely regarded as a very important figure in his field, and was both the first Irishman to get a jet across the Atlantic Ocean to New York in 1958 and the only western journalist to have interviewed Che Guevara.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/> Considered a "master of executing international scoops", his work was sent across the world.<ref name=legend_dies>{{cite news|first=Jimmy|last=Woulfe|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/legendary-journalist-arthur-quinlan-dies-92-217817.html|title=Legendary journalist Arthur Quinlan dies, 92|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=24 December 2012|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref>
==Early life== Quinlan came from Dublin but was raised in Quin, County Clare.<ref name=rte_dies/> He attended University College Dublin (UCD), where he studied English literature and history and edited two student publications.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/><ref name=rte_dies/>
==Journalism== Quinlan began working with ''The Irish Times'' in 1945.<ref name=rte_dies/> He was formerly based at Shannon Airport. Shannon is the most westerly airport in Europe and an important fuel stop for both eastward and westward traffic. Quinlan would start up his 1939 Morris 8 and head for the airport, using it as an opportunity to interview those passing through.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/> He interviewed every United States President from Harry Truman to George H. W. Bush and many Soviet leaders, including Andrey Vyshinsky and Andrei Gromyko. {{citation needed|date=March 2015}}
He once said,<blockquote>"I interviewed many royals including the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Margaret, King Michael of Romania and his mother (''sic''), Queen Maria, King Peter of Yugoslavia, King Zog of Albania, King Ibn Saud, founder of Saudi Arabia, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana of Holland and that lovely couple Prince Rainier and his wife, the former Grace Kelly."<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/></blockquote>
When Captain Charles Lindbergh's son was kidnapped, Quinlan interviewed him. A 4 am interview with George H. W. Bush on the Middle East left U.S. journalists perplexed as to why an Irish 'stringer' had managed to get hold of such a story.<ref name=legend_dies/>
Quinlan taught Fidel Castro how to make an Irish coffee and was the only western journalist to have interviewed Che Guevara.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irlandeses.org/quinlan.htm|title=Quinlan, Arthur – Interview with Che Guevara Lynch|publisher=Irlandeses.org|date=13 March 1965|accessdate=9 March 2015}}</ref> Guevara talked of his Irish connections through the name Lynch. He told Quinlan of his grandmother's Irish roots in Galway. Later, Che, and some of his Cuban comrades, went to Limerick and adjourned to Hanratty's Hotel on Glentworth Street. According to Quinlan, they returned that evening all wearing sprigs of shamrock, for Shannon and Limerick were preparing for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=1413422003|title=The night Che Guevara came to Limerick|work=The Scotsman|accessdate=19 November 2011}}</ref>
In his 80s, he retired, declaring he had 'handed in his gun to ''The Irish Times'''.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/>
==Awards and honours== Quinlan was a "member of honour" of the National Union of Journalists.<ref name=known_for_interviews/> He was recognised in media circles as "Mr. Limerick"<ref name=rte_dies>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1223/arthur-quinlan.html|title=Journalist Arthur Quinlan dies aged 92|work=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew |last=Carey |url=http://www.limerickpost.ie/index.php/navigation-mainmenu-30/local-news/5336-arthur-quinlan-dies-aged-92.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217185735/http://www.limerickpost.ie/index.php/navigation-mainmenu-30/local-news/5336-arthur-quinlan-dies-aged-92.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=Arthur Quinlan dies aged 92 |work=Limerick Post |date=23 December 2012 |accessdate=23 December 2012 }}</ref> and "Uncle Arthur".<ref>{{cite news|first=Kathryn|last=Hayes|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1224/1224328152699.html|title=Interviewer of famous world figures Arthur Quinlan dies at 92|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=24 December 2012|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref> In 1982, he successfully proposed that women be allowed to join Shannon Rowing Club, from which they had been banned.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader>{{cite news|first=Anne|last=Sheridan|url=http://www.limerickleader.ie/community/tributes-paid-to-legendary-reporter-arthur-quinlan-1-4616536|title=Tributes paid to legendary reporter Arthur Quinlan|work=Limerick Leader|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref> The club's main slipway is also named "Arthur" in his honour.<ref name=legend_dies/>
==Death== Quinlan died in Limerick in December 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1223/breaking5.html|title=Journalist Arthur Quinlan dies aged 92|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref> A son and two daughters survived him.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sinead|last=O'Carroll|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/arthur-quinlan-died-728294-Dec2012/|title=Journalist Arthur Quinlan dies, aged 92|work=The Journal|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=23 December 2012}}</ref> His wife, Vera, died shortly before him.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/> Among those regarding him with fondness were Fergal Keane of the BBC.<ref name=tributes_paid_to_leader/>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinlan, Arthur}} Category:1921 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Alumni of University College Dublin Category:Irish Examiner people Category:Writers from County Clare Category:Writers from County Dublin Category:Writers from Limerick (city) Category:The Irish Times people Category:20th-century Irish journalists