MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

March 20th 2009

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED


Daffodils greeted us at Shannon as our plane dipped in along the estuary on this beautiful sunny Spring morning. Our five day skip through New York, Washington and Boston is over and Ireland awaits below green and welcoming. I’m always glad to get home. We had a frenetic but very worthwhile schedule from the Big Apple to the White House to Harvard. But, mar a deirtear, there is no place like home.

In Washington the Speaker’s lunch, hosted for the first time this year by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had both President Obama and Vice President Biden in attendance. I was delighted to present the President with Saint Gerard’s school project. He told me that it was a wonderful gift. I agree. I was also relieved to complete my mission. Imagine if I had mislaid it or if security on Capitol Hill had seized the wonderful piece of artwork compiled by the pupils at Saint Gerard’s? No amount of explanation by Richard McAuley would have satisfied our friends at Saint Gerard’s. Fortunately all went well. Mission accomplished. No doubt a US Presidential letter will soon wing its way to the Springfield Educational Resource Centre.



This photo of President Obama and I was taken as I gave him the St. Gerard's Booklet.
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The White House Reception was Clintonesque with Democrats back in the building in the very best of good form after eight years in the wilderness. There was the best of good music and poetry. A large crowd, swelled by Chicago Gaels, gave the President a great reception as the Taoiseach and he engaged in a bit of Offaly banter. Immediately after his remarks the President and his wife Michelle made their way to where Martin McGuinness stood and greeted him warmly. Incidentally insiders say that it was Michelle’s idea to have the White House fountain green for the day that was in it. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, not to be outdone, did us all proud with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon, as he smoozed the assembled company. He seemed completely at home in the Teach Bán.

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Up in Boston after a series of back-to-back engagements, Richard and I went for a stroll before lunch and the long journey home. Imagine my surprise when I spotted what appeared to be a large bunch of young guys in O Neill tops in the street in front of us. Using skills perfected over decades of skulking we managed to sneak past…. Almost.

Sharp Andytown eyes spotted us and loud Belfast accents guldered at us. It was the La Salle ski group just back from a week on the slopes. Here you can see them in all their glory. It’s a small world.