For President George Bush, it was the last St Patrick's Day in the White House to greet the Taoiseach, writes Mark Hennessey.
FOR PRESIDENT George Bush, it was the last St Patrick's Day in the White House and he had the look of a man who is perhaps beginning to think about life after the Oval Office.
The two men were led into the East Room by pipers and bandsmen from the New York Fire Department's Emerald Society, playing an Irish medley beginning with The Rising of the Moon.
"Taoiseach, I, like you, marvel at the success that's taken place since my short time as president, and know full well that more progress can, and will, be made," he told Ahern, in front of an invited list of dignitaries.
"It's my last time as president to have a St Patrick's Day with you, Taoiseach. Perhaps when we join the ex-leaders' club, we'll sit back and put our feet up and talk about the good old times.
"In the meantime, I know you're going to sprint to the finish, as am I, for the good of our countries," he told Ahern, who has little desire to follow Bush so quickly out of office.
Given the fact that most of Leinster House is going to have to close soon for major refurbishment, it was appropriate, perhaps, that Ahern remembered the man who designed both it and the White House, James Hoban.
"He was a man with a vision and perseverance, who not only built the White House, but returned to rebuild it after it was destroyed in 1914," said Ahern, who quickly corrected himself to say 1814.
Clearly relaxed, Bush joked back: "You know, Taoiseach, you were awfully diplomatic to talk about the fact that the architect came back to rebuild the White House after 1814.
"What, of course, you didn't say was why the White House needed to be rebuilt in the first place," he said, briefly pausing before adding: "And so I'm proud to welcome the ambassador from Great Britain, our dear friend. Thanks for coming."
Thanking the president for his efforts on Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach said: "I hope you will recall all of these days, and all of the hours and the time that you've given to us over the years with some fondness."
On leading efforts to tackle HIV and malaria, Ahern said Bush, who has recently returned from a five-nation tour of southern Africans states, had taken "bold" and "transforming steps".
"Indeed, in doing so, I also remember the efforts of my famous Dublin colleagues made, Bono and Bob Geldof, both of whom you know very well, and I know whom you welcomed many times - and it's cost you a lot of money, as well, by the way," he said.
"President, as we say goodbye on this occasion, but hopefully we'll keep in touch over the years, I will remember - and I hope that everyone in Ireland will - how kind, how favourable you've been, how really open you've been to helping us and the amount of time that the president has given to us.
"We have to remember we're a small island; I lead a small country, but at no time in the last years, the last eight years, has the president other than but been available to us, been helpful to us, has been encouraging to us. And whenever we ask anything, he delivered for us."
Next year, Bush will be gone and a successor - still unknown - will be in his place.
Leaving the White House yesterday, Ahern could be forgiven for wondering if he, too, will be back.