After the biting cold and stinging rain of yesterday, US President Joe Biden's political whistle-stop itinerary today took place in the welcome spring sunshine.
Like the weather, his task in Dublin was an easier one than his trip to Belfast which hinged on a tricky balancing act: cajoling DUP politicians to re-join the Stormont Assembly without being heavy-handed.
Today, his trip took in the main democratic institutions in the Republic, as he visited President Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in nearby Farmleigh and made a joint address to the Dáil and Seanad in Leinster House.
The US president returned to one of the main themes of his trip when he spoke about keeping democracy on track.
In the western world it can, at times, be easy to take it for granted.
But in many other parts of the world, autocracy is on the rise and the pillars that uphold democracy are being undermined.
Joe Biden has drawn parallels between the suspended institutions in Northern Ireland and the riots on US Capitol Hill on 6 January 2021, when Trump supporters ran amok.
He says he believes every generation needs to fight to preserve democracy.
At Áras an Uachtaráin, asked about the next quarter century after the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Joe Biden said: "I hope that ... the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the North. I think that's necessary ... but that's for you all to decide, not for me to decide."
When Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met Mr Biden in Farmleigh he told the US president: "Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are in retreat in large parts of the world, and if it wasn't for American leadership - and if it wasn't for America and Europe working together - I don't know what kind of world we would live in."
There is no doubt the highlight of Joe Biden's political engagements in Dublin was his exceptionally strong and at times emotional speech to the Dáil and Seanad.
In it, he admonished the UK on its role in Northern Ireland.
"I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland on this endeavour. Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island", he said to applause.
He told TDs and senators that peace is precious and must have its champions.
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"The greatest peace dividend of the Good Friday Agreement - it's an entire generation of young people. An entire generation whose hearts are shaped not by grievances of the past but by confidence that there are no checkpoints on their dreams. They're writing a new future."
But his speech was broad-ranging, and he also made space in it to warn there was not a lot of time to fight climate change.
He said Ireland and the US were creating "greater dignity" for workers and corporations would pay "their fair share" - referring to ongoing concerns that multinationals don't pay as much tax as they should.
Elsewhere, Joe Biden's trip has not gone down as well as in Ireland.
In the Daily Telegraph, Nile Gardiner, Director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at The Heritage Foundation, fulminated at the US president's decision to travel to Ireland but not attend the coronation of King Charles next month.
He wrote the US president "knows exactly what he is doing in his treatment of the UK. He is putting two fingers up to the monarchy, Great Britain and its illustrious history. President Biden is no friend of the British people".
The contrast between Joe Biden's chilly encounter with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday and his friendly meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was noted by Tony Blair's former advisor Alastair Campbell. He tweeted photos of the two bilaterals with the words: "No comment."
During his trip, President Biden had pointed to his English family connections as well as his Irish heritage.
But as he told politicians in Leinster House today: "This is one of the great honours of my career, to be here today. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart."
Read more:
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