Bill's at ease in Armagh

They had chosen Armagh because of its symbolism: the ancient ecclesiastical capital of Ireland where, as President Clinton said in his address, the cathedrals of the two main religious traditions gazed at each other in harmony from opposite hills.

So it was no surprise that the twin pillars of Northern Ireland's new political situation, David Trimble and Seamus Mallon, featured prominently in the President's Armagh address, as they looked at each other in apparent harmony from opposite sides of the stage.

It was a noticeably relaxed David Trimble who welcomed everybody to the city: "Mr President, Prime Minister, Seamus..." And he lost no time in drawing attention to the unionist-controlled local council's good record of crosscommunity co-operation, including an SDLP deputy mayor.

His own SDLP deputy, Mr Mallon, also welcomed the President and Mrs Clinton to Armagh, the old capital of Ulster, whose history predated Christianity and the cultures and identities that were "part of our current problems".

But President Clinton needed no reminding of Armagh's past.

After calling for a well-rewarded "big hand" for the First Minister and his deputy, he admitted he was tempted "in this city of saints and cathedrals" to see the peace in Northern Ireland as "a miracle", delivered on Good Friday by an "angel", in this case Senator George Mitchell.

He was quick to withdraw the suggestion, however, admitting the peace was in reality the result of the hard work and the will of politicians, church people and the public at large.

Thousands of people turned out on a balmy evening to see the President, who was greeted with loud cheers and even screams from the predominantly young audience.

Held in the city's elegant Mall - confusingly, for Americans, a large green space surrounded by Georgian townhouses and public buildings - the event was themed "A Gathering for Peace", and the stage backdrop might have been a modern church altar.

Before the party's arrival, local schoolchildren read prayers for peace; and although there was no overt religious involvement in the public programme, the President met church leaders in a house nearby before he took the stage. Mary Black entertained the audience, and the Clintons were greeted by a girls' choir singing From a Distance".

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, also spoke, hailing Mr Clinton as the president who "has done more for peace in Northern Ireland than any other President in American history". He, too, cited the relationship between Trimble and Mallon as a symbol of Northern Ireland's future and said: "The days of bombing and terror and violence are over, the days of peace are here."

One of President Clinton's main themes was that Northern Ireland was now a model for conflict resolution around the world. In a mantra taken up enthusiastically by the crowd, he cited other old conflicts, like Israel and Palestine, India and Pakistan, and Albania and Serbia. In each case, he said, the world was now saying to the combatants: "Look at Northern Ireland."

During his speech, he also recalled previous US presidents with northern Irish roots, adding that his own northern ancestors were "so humble" no one could locate them. So wherever he went in the north, he could say: "It's good to be home." The organisers of the entertainment echoed the theme. Songs on the programme included Carrick-fergus", The Derry Air and, as the President went on a walkabout, the loudspeakers were blasting out The Homes of Donegal.