Former US President Bill Clinton was the guest of honour at an awards ceremony in Limerick on Saturday – with Irish entrepreneur JP McManus picking up the tab.
Clinton is reported to be earning a quarter of a million dollars for his speech to 600 guests at the University of Limerick event.
Billionaire McManus has refused to comment on newspaper reports that he is picking up the $250,000 tab.
The former US President attracted 40,000 people to the streets of Limerick for his last visit in 1998.
But Saturday’s event was strictly by invitation only and was secured by the US secret service. Parts of the University of Limerick campus will be a no-go area for the duration of the visit according to a report in the Irish Times.
Clinton was due to fly in and out of Shannon airport by private jet with McManus admitting the visit was arranged with ‘difficulty.'
He told the paper: “I did it with the help of friends. I got a friend of mine to make an inquiry.
“He was given a few days that would work for us so he picked November 17th. He is in Europe flying around and this is an extra pit stop.”
A spokeswoman for McManus said they were making ‘absolutely no comment’ on the reports of a $250,000 price tag for the Clinton stopover.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.PhlutiePhan | Nov 18, 2012, 07:19 PM EST
Willie C continues to be very controversial. Recently, he was the marriage official for Anthony Wiener and Huma Abedin. Under what authority did he marry a Jewish individual with an Iranian woman? His conduct continues to stretch the imagination. I fugured that since he is a "tuna boat captain" that this gave him the authority for marriage.
seamus60 | Nov 18, 2012, 07:12 PM EST
Its only pay back on a level playing field. If Adams can do it in the USA surely Clinton can get away with it too.
Towngate | Nov 18, 2012, 05:56 PM EST
...don't blame 'Crooked Willie' for this 'bank Raid' gig. If the morons are prepared to listen to him and pay for it, well....more fool them!
aloistmartin | Nov 18, 2012, 04:55 PM EST
Now do you Welfare State " Basket Cases " See, what a little " Hustle and Bustle " can do for you Impotent Celebrity Status and Love Life; Huh, Gerry ?
Murph46 | Nov 18, 2012, 01:10 PM EST
Same old Bill,still screwing someone!
biggles008 | Nov 18, 2012, 12:33 PM EST
A lot of people gone MAD
cillowen | Nov 18, 2012, 11:37 AM EST
by jaysus what a killing what an erin gone broke country - how can that b sleep at night
porkheaven | Nov 18, 2012, 11:00 AM EST
How can you people give that much $ to listen to that yo-yo.
RedBranch | Nov 18, 2012, 10:31 AM EST
Just how many millions has Bill 'picked up' in Ireland since 1998?