• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CONTRIBUTORS
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

“King Conan” Receives Warm Finnish Welcome

By Irish America Staff
April / May 2006

April 1, 2006 by Leave a Comment

Conan O'Brien, NBC,

Conan O’Brien, host of NBC’s Late Night talk show, marked his arrival in Vantaa, Finland on February 12 by kissing the ground at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, renamed “Conan O’Brien Airport” for the day. His visit was prompted by a supposed resemblance that O’Brien (pictured above) has to Finnish President Tarja Halonen (above right). The Late Show ran a series of mock campaign ads in which O’Brien endorsed Ms. Halonen.

O’Brien’s Finnish fan base came to the airport bearing signs which read “Welcome to Conelandia” and “Tarja is our president but Conan is our king.” About 2,000 people turned out to welcome the talk show host in the airport’s VIP lounge.

Aside from meeting with President Halonen at the presidential palace in Helsinki, O’Brien planned to meet with fans and sample Finnish foods like reindeer steak. The New York Times quoted O’Brien as saying, “I see this as an opportunity to create my own kind of travel show.”

Aside from Finland, O’Brien has no ambitions to take over other countries with his humor. “This whole thing grew organically, with one happy coincidence leading to another, first with the physical resemblance and then with the presidential election.” he told the Times.

During his time in Finland O’Brien was presented an award for “the most surprising and entertaining TV personality” by Finland’s oldest television magazine, based on a public vote. ♦

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • Morrison Visas: Round Two

    Morrison Visas: Round Two

    Hard to believe that it's already a year since the days of Morrison Madness, when tens of thousands ...
  • British Government Faced With Legal Dilemma Over 1997 Murder of Sean Brown

    British Government Faced With Legal Dilemma Over 1997 Murder of Sean Brown

    This month is crunch time for the British government on one of the most prominent legal cases from t...
  • Roots: The O'Briens

    Roots: The O'Briens

    The O'Briens are one of the great Gaelic families of Ireland, and were the rulers of the ancient kin...
  • President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    President Trump Proclaims Irish Heritage Month

    The President calls on Irish Americans to celebrate their "contributions to our Nation," adding,"Iri...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in