Central message — we are now a peace-processing beacon of light to the world.

Critics slammed the visit on the grounds that here we had a man responsible for waging war in Iraq trying to take credit for building peace in Northern Ireland.

Given that we live in a place where men who waged war on the people of Northern Ireland now get credit for building peace in Northern Ireland, this is hardly a unique example of political hypocrisy.

Parts of Belfast came to a standstill for the Bush visit but elsewhere life went on as normal. A bit like during the Troubles really. Business as usual.

We are, of course, becoming terribly blas£ about presidential visits. This was the most powerful man in the world (as we are constantly reminded) dropping into outer Ballyhackamore to say farewell.

There was a time — not so long ago — when anybody with a good tan, checked trousers and a Miami Sammy shirt would have been pointed at in the streets as that rarest of birds. An American visitor.

Now, the place is coming down with them.

And a good thing it is, too. Not just the American investors who come with their wallets stuffed and their promises bulging. But the more 'ordinary' American visitors who come off the cruise ships or in their tour cars up over the border they used to regard rather like the frontier with hell.

Driving through Belfast you see them these days. Not only the no-frills flying young but older people — some of them really quite old indeed — who've decided to venture forth for some of our peace and hospitality.

The night before Mr Bush arrived there was further trouble on the interfaces. The day before that policemen were injured in a booby trap bombing.

But in the peace processing show all that is quietly glossed over.

The narrative the world gets for now is that we are collectively as lovingly hyphenated as DUP-Sinn Fein.

Say what you will about his polices in Iraq, Dubya dropping in, choosing Belfast before all those impressive sounding cities will certainly help promote the place.

Maybe we should, at least temporarily, drop the cynicism and enjoy our moment in the sun. Despite that niggling sense that it isn't as sorted as it seems, George.

The impression our latest American visitors will take with them is a positive one.

Although back in the US some Irish American Bushites may well wonder how come Caitriona Ruane didn't go along to greet George. Was she worried that he was pro 11-plus?

Our impression of them? Politically, George is now borderline has-been. Maybe the one we should have been watching was the First Lady ...

Four years down the line could she, too, throw her hat into the presidential election campaign a la Hillary Clinton?

After all, that couple of minor engagements she attended on Monday — surely that qualifies Laura also to talk up her foreign policy experience?

And claim she helped bring peace to Northern Ireland?