From his enthusiastic endorsement of a future united Ireland to his lifting of a tariff on Irish whiskey imports to the U.S. market, President Donald Trump made just two days in Ireland seem almost like a week.
Which, as we know, is a long time in politics.
At the start of his two-day visit President Trump travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Catherine Connolly.
Speaking after the meeting, President Connolly heralded the "strong ties" between Ireland and America.
“This is a deep connection, built over centuries, which allows us to speak openly to one another," she said, adding: "I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted.
"As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict."
President Connolly stressed to President Tump that "the Irish people would strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence."
Following the meeting with President Connolly came Trump's remarks on Irish unity, a development that he said would be "fantastic."
Referencing the president's views on Irish reunification, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that "the conversation on Irish unity has shifted, and the onus is on the Taoiseach to begin planning."
McDonald added: "We have secured peace, and as we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement our national journey is now reunification, which is organised, planned and a peaceful transition.”
Trump's Irish unity words prompted worldwide headlines and significant reaction in Ireland, the United States and, of course, from Irish American unity advocates. There will be a full report in this week's print/digital edition of the Echo.
