PAT Keogh, former CEO of both Leopardstown and the Curragh, was relaxing yesterday having returned from France, (he had to miss Punchestown), where he delivered a van full of clothes and supplies for migrants stuck in Calais.

“It was an eye-opener to see the conditions these people live in. I went under the auspices of an English charity Care4Calais and everyone is a volunteer, mostly people in their 20s. We were sponsored by Philip Lee, a Dublin commercial law firm. Patrick Lee, Philip’s son, is one of the volunteers who rescue migrants facing so many dangers.

“We collected clothes and other supplies in Ireland. There are only men in the camps in Calais, known as ‘the jungle’, with no food or sanitation, so we donated any female clothes to Ukrainian refugees here in Ireland.

“We packed the supplies into a big van and then took the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg and on to Calais. There are about 1,500-2,000 migrants stuck in Calais and it was very sobering listening to their stories. They are very grateful for all help. While we sometimes focus on the negatives, there are plenty of good things going on.

“On the way home on the ferry to Ireland, we met a party of Ukrainians, including a man in his 60s and his daughter, fleeing to safety to Ireland. They had left another daughter behind trapped in the steelworks at Mariupol. They told us a bit about what they faced with the Russian soldiers, et cetera. They are so grateful for the welcome in Ireland.”

Pat is now taking a sabbatical but of course is not idle! “I’m involved with the Moyross equestrian project in Limerick. The young people in that community have such a natural affinity with horses. The project tries to bring then into full employment through equine related projects.”

Positive thinking has power.