Obama party comes to a close!

The party is over. The President has left the building. For over four hours, crowds had poured into the centre of Dublin, packing the College Green area in expectation of President Barack Obama's arrival. Traffic in the city ground to a halt and overhead there was the frequent sound of choppers flying over the route that President Obama would take into the heart of the city.

The musical build-up was essentially a matter of keeping the swelling crowds happy, but - in an event successfully mounted by Caroline Desmond for MCD - everything clicked on the day, with Sharon Shannon, Mundy and The Saw Doctors all doing well. Jedward turned in a typically raucously entertaining spot, featuring their Eurovision entry 'Lipstick', before handing over to Westlife for the final warm-up.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny then launched into a welcoming speech, in front of a clearly pleased Barack Obama, who smiled indulgently through the Fine Gael leader's GAA All Ireland Final day-style oration. And then it was over to the President – whose own speech was, in parts at least, impassioned and emotive, emphasising the pleasure he'd taken in discovering his own Irish roots and reminding everyone of the commonality of American and Irish interests.

Tellingly, he characterised the United States as a nation of immigrants - a thought that is worth remembering in times like these, when there are so many clamouring for the closing of doors to outsiders both here and in the U.S. And, quoting William Butler Yeats' line that "in dreams begin responsibility", he was warm in his praise of what Ireland has given to the world - and promised that America would stand with this country through our current economic travails.

Anyone expecting a specific gesture will have been disappointed - there was none. But those words are there to be called on. And there can be no doubt about the potential impact of the visit, in terms of creating an awareness of the links between the two countries and the strengths of Ireland as a base for U.S. companies entering the European market.

The speech done, the President mingled with the crowds, shook hands, signed autographs and generally acted like a pop star. In many ways, the visit confirmed that he, and his wife Michelle, retain that kind of glamour in Irish eyes at least.

Doubtless, it will be seen as a highly successful trip from the U.S. President's point of view - potentially winning him the backing of a large section of the 40million-strong Irish diaspora in the States, come the general election in 2012. And from a local perspective, the visit can only have been helpful from a tourist and business perspective.

Not a bad day's work.

FROM EARLIER TODAY...
It's all go on the streets of Dublin and we're practically hanging out the windows here in HP Towers trying to get a glimpse of the goings on.

From where we sit, MC Ryan Tubridy's dulcet tones are struggling with a strong wind but there was no mistaking the sound of The Saw Doctors as they took to the stage to a rousing reception from the assembled crowd to belt out a perfect rendition of 'N17' complete with call-and-response crowd interaction before Sharon Shannon increased the tempo with a booming performance of 'Galway Girl'.

Brendan Gleeson has just introduced Ryan Sheridan with so much force that the Monaghan singer has a tough act to follow but we reckon he's up to the task.

Having sampled some of the black stuff in Moneygall, Barack Obama is en route to his very special party at College Green. All this and we still have Jedward to come! Now if only that bloody car alarm would stop ringing...