Stern-faced busts peer down at Blair

Maybe it was imagination, but Tony Blair looked a little uneasy in Aras an Uachtarain last night.

Then again, maybe it was the stern-faced busts that peered at him from every nook and cranny - including John O'Leary, Charles Stuart Parnell and a glumlooking Eamon de Valera, who was taking a dim view of the changes to Articles 2 and 3.

Mr Blair must have been grateful that bronze busts - like Sinn Fein politicians - have no arms. Otherwise he might have felt the hand of history on his shoulder again, and not so nicely this time.

Aras officials believed this to be the first visit by a British prime minister. But given the building's origins, Mr Blair may have been surrounded by friendlier ghosts as well. A young Winston Churchill often visited here when his father was first secretary to the viceroy; and his memoirs, as President McAleese told her guest during the photocall, recorded these as among "the happiest days of his life".

Another guest - the Taoiseach - joined Mr Blair in signing the visitors' book. There are a lot more names in it these days, thanks to the open-house policy. But, appropriately, the Aras turned a new leaf for Mr Ahern and Mr Blair, neither of whom left his address.

The leaders were joined by Mary Harney for a 40-minute private meeting with Mrs McAleese. Then Mr Blair was given presents: Belleek china marked "To Cherie with fond wishes, Mary McA" - and three gift-wrapped CDs for the children. Aides would only say they were by Irish musical artists. Ash, U2 and those popular Northern rockers, Trimble and Hume, was the popular guess.

Mr Blair did not take any questions as he left; and discreet inquiries to the Aras revealed that in the matter of presents, he had given nothing away either.