No one was quite sure what the regular Claddagh birds would make of it, but a "swan of peace" was released on Galway's Claddagh Basin at the weekend as part of an anti-war prayer vigil.
The larger-than-life papier-mâché bird was made by the Anard community arts group in Clonbur, Co Galway.
It will float on the basin for as long as it survives, and for as long as the conflict in Iraq continues, according to participants in the multi-denominational and non-political vigil.
Residents of the Claddagh community joined members of the Galway Alliance Against War and various individuals and families from Galway city and county as Father Tom Brady, parish priest of the Claddagh and of the Dominican Order, appealed for peace and the enlightenment of "rulers".
About 2,000 people attended, and there were prayers to Allah, Buddha, Krishna, the Great Spirit of the American Indians and the god of the Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths.
Earlier, a minute's silence was observed by stall-holders in Galway's market in memory of the Iraqi civilians killed in market-place bombings.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Galway West TD, Mr Eamon Ó Cuív, has said he has "no problem" with criticism voiced by his brother of the Government's policy on the use of Shannon by US military.
Mr Ruairí Ó Cuív made his comments in a letter published last week in The Irish Times.
An attempt at the Conradh na Gaeilge annual conference to introduce a motion seeking the withdrawal of the use of Shannon Airport by the US military was defeated on Saturday, writes Anne Lucey.
Those opposed to the motion argued that Conradh should stay out of politics and stick to the promotion of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.
