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County View Four hundred people gathered at Breaffy House Hotel to meet a living legend: Lech Walesa.
Lech Walesa – a true hero
County View FOR the 400 people gathered for the gala Rehab banquet at Breaffy House Hotel, there was a palpable air of expectation and excitement. They had come to meet a living legend: Lech Walesa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former president of Poland, and a man who had single-handedly changed the course of world history. The attendance was not disappointed, and the standing ovation which he was given as he was piped into the banqueting suite, escorted by Joe Kennedy, chairman of the event, left the guest in no doubt about the respect in which he is held by the people of Ireland. It was a night to remember, the culmination of a three-day visit to Mayo which had been meticulously planned and organised by the unflappable Kevin Bourke of Rehab, a man much accustomed to hosting such events. Earlier that day, Mr Walesa paid an emotional visit to Knock Shrine where he planted a tree in memory of his great friend and countryman, Pope John Paul II, who was such a pillar of strength to the Solidarity movement when Walesa and his colleagues took on and defeated the might of the Soviet empire. He had also visited the unique Hennigan’s Heritage Farm in Killasser where, under the benign guidance of Tom Hennigan, he travelled back in time to an era which was clearly not unfamiliar to Mr Walesa and the members of his entourage. But it was at the gala banquet that formality and cordiality mixed well together, and where the serious content of Lech Walesa’s address was leavened with humorous anecdotes and amusing asides drawn from his own long experience. Kevin Bourke had done the formal introductions, and a Polish singer had entertained through the meal, when Joe Kennedy was called to the podium to propose the first toast. The Chairman of Ireland West Airport – and honorary chairman of the function – had a surprise of his own in store. Addressing the gathering in fluent Polish, he spoke for several minutes in his newly-found language to a bewildered audience: but not so Mr Walesa, who nodded and smiled appreciatively at Joe Kennedy’s linguistic achievements. Mr Walesa’s own keynote speech was concise and well informed, with as much time given to the present state of play in European integration as to the momentous events which had brought him to where he stands today. He recalled the stringent and often laughable attempts by the authorities in the pre-Solidarity days to prevent people leaving the country, and contrasted that with the current drain of young workers out of Poland which, though inevitable, causes him much sadness. Those who are leaving, he said, were the most entrepreneurial and the most effective, and their departure was having a social and economic impact on Poland. Referring to the current development of the European Union, he said through his interpreter that the voting mechanism in decision-making, weighted according to each country’s population, was unfair. What will be the outcome, he asked, if at some time in the future, the EU was to combine with China as one entity: would that mean China would be able to outvote the entire EU on the strength of population alone? “Perhaps the only solution for every European family is to start having 30 children, so that in time we will have enough population to preserve our votes,” he quipped, to laughter. Then it was time for the presentation of gifts. For Mr Walesa, a painting of the Dooloough Valley by Swinford artist, Pat Goff, was presented by Joe Kennedy. For Danuta Walesa, a floral tribute from Mr Kennedy’s daughter, Cathy. Finally, a surprise presentation from the organising committee for the maestro, Kevin Bourke, Oliver Kelleher called Kevin to the stage to accept a bronze of Cúchulainn. “I am presenting this to you, Kevin, as the Cúchulainn of the west,” said Oliver. “And I am delighted to receive it from you, Oliver, the John Travolta of the west,” responded Kevin.
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