FORMER US President Bill Clinton arrived at the University of Limerick last Saturday for a flying visit at an invitation-only awards ceremony.
The charismatic statesman who played major role in the recent re-election of President Barak Obama was invited to Limerick by millionaire JP McManus to present his prestigious All Ireland Scholarship Awards.
Telling the prizewinning students that the current economic crisis would pass but that their education would endure, President Clinton said: “It is very important that just as in making of peace, the Irish threw off the heavy hand of history to grasp for a brighter future, we throw off the burden of the current economic crisis to imagine a different future.”
Mr Clinton was reportedly paid €195,000 to attend the event, where he presented 125 students from across Ireland with bursaries sponsored by Mr McManus worth €6,750 for each year of their course.
Commending the award-winners on their achievement, Mr McManus stated: “Access to third-level education should enhance and develop individual abilities. It is our fervent hope that the young people here today will embrace the opportunity now presented, achieve fulfilment and success in life but also become a resource for the betterment of our nation’s future.”
According to Limerick City TD Willie O’Dea, who was among the 600 invited guests, Mr Clinton delivered an “inspirational speech”.
Deputy O’Dea told Limerick Post that the event could have generated a higher profile if it had not been closed off to the media.
“Maybe they had good reason. I don’t know what their reasoning was but it was an occasion that generated a certain amount of envy across the country. I know that from speaking to my colleagues in the Dail. If the media had been allowed attend, it could have generated a higher profile.”
Four students from Limerick received scholarships: Richard Kantsevitch, now studying at Trinity College; Jemima McCarthy, now studying in NUI Galway; Dylan Carroll, now studying at UL, and Siobhan Condon, past pupil of John The Baptist Community School, Hospital.
Among the 600 guests at University Concert Hall were rugby legends Keith Wood and Paul O’Connell, as well as Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan.
