JP McManus to pay Clinton $250k for speech

JP McManus is expected to pay former US president Bill Clinton at least $250,000 (€195,000) to deliver a “private” 20-minute speech in Limerick.

An executive jet will also be laid on to get Mr Clinton to the JP McManus All-Ireland Scholarships ceremony at the University of Limerick.

The event, closed to the public and the media, is strictly invite-only.

Last year Mr Clinton made 54 speaking appearances for which he received $13.4m in fees varying from $75,000 to $750,000, averaging at about $250,000.

A source said: “The fee is not an issue for those seeking him. It’s just getting him, such is his huge popularity as a speaker at major international events and his massive schedule.”

Asked how he managed to get Mr Clinton to Limerick, Mr McManus said: “With difficulty. I did it with the help of friends.”

Mr McManus wanted Mr Clinton as the scholarships are for students in 32 counties.

Mr McManus said: “Well he had a lot to do with the peace process in Ireland. So I thought he was the ideal man to get.”

Tomorrow’s ceremony will be attended by 600 guests, and will include Finance Minister Michael Noonan and the North’s education minister, John O’Dowd.

Scholarships worth €6,750 a year will be given to 125 students to pay for their undergraduate college fees at colleges on the island.

The ceremony will commence at the UL Concert Hall at 11.15am.

A spokeswoman for JP McManus said Mr Clinton’s office had asked that the ceremony be closed to the media as he would not be giving interviews.

“He is expected to speak for about 20 minutes,” said the spokeswoman.