Fifty blue and white balloons rose above Rathgar, Dublin, as Ireland's Jewish community celebrated the golden jubilee of the foundation of Israel.
The balloons, in Israel's national colours, were released yesterday by the Israeli ambassador, Mr Zvi Gabay, and cheered on their way with a shout of "Mazal Tov" - Hebrew for "congratulations" - by the children of Stratford College, Ireland's only Jewish school.
As the children delivered a lusty version of the Hatikvah, Israel's national anthem, Mr Gabay drew parallels between his country's history and that of Ireland.
"Both Ireland and Israel were born in this century and both have had to struggle to achieve peace. We both are striving to find the solutions to difficult problems."
The celebrations had begun earlier with a special breakfast for the children, followed by a film about the history of Israel, "both the good bits and the bad", in the words of a school governor.
This was a significant day "for all those who loved peace and democracy", the ambassador told his young audience.
Just as the 50th anniversary celebrations in Israel have been relatively subdued, Ireland's Jewish community has taken a low-key approach. Now numbering fewer than 1,200, the community held a thanksgiving dinner in a Dublin synagogue on Wednesday evening.
Last night, a reception was held in a Dublin hotel, at which the Taoiseach and other leading politicians were expected to attend.
Back in Stratford College, however, the children, waving their home-made Irish and Israeli flags, were in party mode. The national school, which is 65 years old today, has an enrolment of 140 children, of which some three-quarters are Jewish. Half the 140 pupils at second level are Jewish.
Many of the Jewish pupils have been to Israel with their parents. Asked what differences they found between Ireland and Israel, all refer to the number of soldiers and guns they saw on the streets in the Middle East.
Lindsey Ketner (11) also pointed out that Israel was hot and "really needed trees". Jason Druker thought it was "great" that Israel had lasted 50 years "after so much war".
Back in class, Mr Gabay reminded his audience of the Holocaust, Israel's difficult birth and its struggles with its neighbours.
Then he asks what is the most important word in the dictionary. A hand shoots up and a girl gives the correct answer.
"Shalom," she says - peace.
