Sean Quinn could have been hob-knobbing with the mega rich in the world’s most prestigious holiday spots, golf courses, yacht clubs, racecourses, ski slopes, Caribbean cruises or restaurants; he could have mingled with the well-heeled social set that grace the pages of celebrity magazines; he could have lived the lifestyle of the affluent and famous; he could have ensconced himself in the world of the glitterati where only the opulent are welcome.
But no, that was not his style, nor the style of his wife Patricia, their family and extended family.
Sean Quinn was quite happy living his life around Derrylin and Ballyconnell; joining his life long friends for a pint or a game of cards; dropping in for a chat and a mug of tea to his neighbours and friends; playing a foursome for a few Euro with his golfing partners; heading off to a league or championship match to support his home club Teemore Shamrocks or his beloved county Fermanagh; being on first name terms with his staff; responding generously to the endless requests for sponsorship, donations and gift vouchers from football clubs, community organisations, charitable causes; calling to families in times of bereavement; shying away from the glare of publicity. He was happy being one of us.
It was probably the reason we liked him so much too – added to the admiration we had for the way he had brought new life, jobs and opportunities to an area that would otherwise have just another backwater, far removed and overlooked by governments of the day.
We took him for granted too. When a new ultra modern manufacturing facility or a new insurance office opened, or when he took on several hundred new workers, we hardly blinked an eyelid. Sure this is what we expected of him, this is simply what he did and the whole community and countless other associated businesses prospered as a result.
Let us imagine for a minute that Sean Quinn had never gone into business. Just what would our corner of Ireland look like then? Nobody, simply nobody, can ever dilute or belittle his contribution to the economical, social, infrastructural, sporting or whatever aspect of life in the area you care to consider.
Public reaction throughout Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Monaghan, Meath and far beyond to the news of the takeover of the Quinn Insurance business reflected just what we thought – how could anyone else run the business as successfully as he and his executives did? People signed up in their thousands a petition that the Quinn proposal be given a chance and were horrified that their pleas not only fell on deaf ears, but that a military style operation was already in place to take over the whole Quinn Group with a combination of code words, secret rendezvous locations, security personnel and even guard dogs. The personal touch was well and truly gone!
4 comments:
I wonder if this Personal touch and the fact that he was so down to earth and not part of any elite group of 'hob nobs' is partly the reason why he is being used in the way that he has been over the last 2 years. Is it that the politicians and Anglo are jealous of this man and his 'midas touch', and jealous of the respect and allegiance he earned over his life-time of work. Maybe to do well in this country you have to be part of the 'in-group', pass the odd brown envelop onto the big guys and lose any bit of integrity you have. How can a man from a small farm in county Fermanagh do so well without the help of the big guys? I suppose one way to show who's boss is to take him down...How dare he show them up....How dare he be nice, down to earth, respectful to employees...and so successful!
Well sed mona !
Shame, shame, shame on Anglo, Government, Opposition. A man that has done s much for the country, let down by his own. Quinn said he would pay back the money even if he didnt believe he owed it, if left with his companies. He was not supported , at the expense of Cavan, Fermanagh, Employees and Taxpayers someone made the decision to take him down, regardless of the horrendous consequences.Not content with that they took his reputation, and vilified him. Did they think the truth would not come out? Have they not learnt through history the truth always prevails. Most people dont want to pay debts they legitimately owe, Quinn was willing to pay the debts he didnt believe he owed. A sign of a truly decent man. Unfortunatly he will probably be dead before his greatness is realised. Shame , shame, shame on us all.
It is possible that Sean Quinn was showing up the Governments in that he did what none of them did. He invested and transformed beyond recognition a disadvantaged part of the country that was forgotten by the political classes. Unlike Government Ministers who pose for photo shoots at the mention of the creation of small number of jobs, Sean Quinn created jobs in thousands rather than hundreds and he did not pose for media photo calls or clap himself on the back.
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