'Taken’ star, Liam Neeson, was presented with the first ever Belfast Ambassador Award during a recent visit to New York City by the new Lord Mayor of Belfast, Martin O Muilleoir.       

The new Ambassador Award will be presented to ex-pats and locals who are outstanding advocates for the people and city of Belfast, writes the Newsletter. 

“No-one has been a greater ambassador for the arts and culture of Belfast, highlighting its burgeoning theatre scene and its new film-making fame,” said O Muilleoir. “Liam Neeson has also been a tireless ally of the peace process and a standard-bearer for the transformation Belfast has undergone.”                                                                                    

The newly appointed Lord Mayor also paid a visit to New York’s Mayor Bloomberg, with whom he made plans for an inward investment mission from America to Belfast which is due to take place next Spring. 

Other visits included meetings with Kathryn Wylde, CEO of Partnership for NYC, Mayor Cory Booker of Newark and various Irish American business leaders. 

The Lord Mayor also made time to visit some of the homeowners affected by Hurricane Sandy before his return to Belfast on Saturday and expressed solidarity with all of New York as the recovery work continues.