MOST delegates left the Pittsburgh conference yesterday feeling the event had been a success. But the question remained "Where to from here?" The initial feeling of optimism and enthusiasm around the event as delegates arrived late on Sunday was marred by the bombs in Lisburn, and the resulting fears of an escalation in violence. But business continued to be done.

The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr Kenny, said he felt a real "buzz" around the conference venue and a feeling that business deals would follow. He added that he would like to report in 12 months on the results of the 500 meetings between the Irish and US companies.

It is difficult to gauge the success of the "match making" programme, where Irish companies met up with potential US suitors as it will take some time for deals to be consummated. And while many delegates met potential partners and made useful contacts, some participants privately questioned the value of the "computer dating" or blind date system in operation.

Forbairt, the Irish agency responsible for developing indigenous industry, is convinced that the only way such commercial match making works is to go through a slow, time consuming process, making sure that all the details about a company's needs are correct.

Mr Sean Donnelly, executive director of Forbairt, said the conference went pretty much as the agency had expected. "We are very pleased with the energy and the organisation. It does provide a useful forum and raises the profile of Ireland in America."

Putting "Ireland" into the mind of corporate America as a location to invest either directly or through link ups with Irish firms was the key theme of the conference. Time after time, influential US officials from Mr Michael Kantor, the Secretary of State for Commerce to Senator George Mitchell, special adviser to the President, and Ms Nancy Soderberg, the President's key adviser on Northern Ireland policy, pushed home the message that Ireland is the place for Americans to do business.

At the end of the conference, many of the main participants were talking up the results. "We made a great deal of progress," said Mr Willie McCarter, managing director of Fruit of the Loom's Irish subsidiary and director of the International Fund for Ireland.

"This was a crucially important and hugely successful conference," said Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat. "What has happened here in Pittsburgh over the last few days is a reason for hope and optimism for the future. Setbacks in the peace process will not deter US business from moving forward."

However, there was also considerable frustration among the delegates as news of the bombing broke and a fear that it could lead to a breaking of the Loyalist ceasefire. There was also a realisation that the strong US political support for economic development in the North and the Border counties could wane, if the peace process finally breaks down, and that US business could turn elsewhere for new investment.

For the moment, the Clinton administration continues to devote attention to Ireland. The administration's idea of throwing future initiatives into the hands of the private sector through the establishment of a council including representatives on both sides of US and Irish business met with a muted response. Most delegates felt the idea has not yet been properly worked through and were unsure how to proceed. Mr Kenny said he envisaged a council which met no more than three or four times a year. "What was proposed is valid," he said. "But we have to take a look at it ourselves."

Mr Peter Pollock, managing director of Cavan Crystal, suggested that the next initiative ought to be an attempt to get US companies to visit Ireland. "The companies on the north and south of the Border should come together to present a united front to the Americans," he said. "The atmosphere over here has been phenomenal."

For the moment, the US private sector remains enthusiastic. One delegate, Mr James Connolly III, who runs the Westminster Securities Corporation in New York, said as a fourth generation American he is looking to "find a way to plough something back to Ireland which will make sense and contribute to the peace process. Mr Connolly has already organised a final assembly plant for "smart" cards with Parcard International in Newry.

Whether such goodwill can be sustained in the months ahead will depend not only on the business deals done from the conference, but also on whether the peace process can make any headway after the latest bombing.