THERE was a time – and it seems an extraordinarily long time ago – when politicians from Northern Ireland visiting the White House over the St Patrick’s Day week was considered a ‘really big thing’.

The sort of big thing that dominated headlines for a week or so.

The sort of big thing, moreover, that didn’t require the politicians to justify themselves to the media or even members of their own party.

The sort of big thing, in other words, which suggested to the rest of the world that something very specific, very important was happening in the political undergrowth.

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And in the years between 1995 – a few months after the IRA and loyalist paramilitary ceasefires – and 2008, a few months after the debut of the Paisley/McGuinness Chuckle Brothers double act as first and deputy first ministers, the visits were important.

Providing opportunities for quiet conversations away from the photo-opportunities in the Oval Office and allowing time for political players from Dublin, London, Belfast and Washington to chat away from the prying eyes and ears in and around locations close to home.

© The Irish News