When Donald Trump was first inaugurated as US President in 2017 and then taoiseach Enda Kenny prepared to meet him in the Oval Office, he told the Dáil that "senior hurling has gone global".
Mr Trump had just voiced his support for Brexit and said other countries should leave the European Union. That is what amounted to geopolitical turmoil in those days.
"It is not business as usual anymore, it is not politics as usual anymore," Mr Kenny told TDs, promising that Ireland would "stand up for what we believe in" while accepting that "leaders can differ".
Ahead of Micheál Martin's visit to the White House this week, the key phrase being used by officials is "respectful engagement".
Mr Martin is primed to highlight the business and economic links between Ireland and the US and to safeguard Irish jobs in the face of a looming trade war.
The US is the top country for Irish goods exports - buying €54 billion worth of products a year.
Of that number, €36bn relates to pharmaceuticals, which could be hit by tariffs of up to 25% on EU imports that Mr Trump is planning to announce in early April.
The Trump administration has made clear it finds the trade imbalance in goods with Ireland unfair.
But - for now - there is little sense of trepidation in Government that Mr Trump would be a hostile host, or use the televised part of the engagement in the Oval Office to deliver some sort of dressing down of the Taoiseach.
Nonetheless, some of the public comments made by him or those in his orbit suggest the issues will be raised and the discussion could well be a difficult one.
Highlighting the sensitivities was the level of scrutiny afforded last week to a US State Department read-out of the phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tánaiste Simon Harris.
Read more: Taoiseach on 'solid foundation' after Rubio call - Harris
The US version said Mr Rubio raised "the US priority to address the US-Ireland trade imbalance", a situation the Government said was not raised at all.
While Mr Harris's disputing of the State Departments account - at such sensitive time - might have raised some eyebrows, no one at senior levels of Government is seriously contemplating that the matter will cause too much consternation, in the grand scheme of things.
The Taoiseach is likely to focus on Irish investment in the US.
A promotional video by the Department of Foreign Affairs, ahead of the visit, set to U2's 'A Beautiful Day'- highlights that 770 Irish-owned companies employ 200,000 American workers.
It says Irish investment in the US is valued at $351bn, and billions are spent on US goods.
Irish companies have placed orders with Boeing worth €130bn, it states.
"We want to consolidate the ceasefire and will be making that point very strongly."
There will be other topics too.
Mr Trump was just a few days into office when he referenced the Apple Tax money.
Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said the EU "supposedly" won a tax case against Apple which "lots of people didn't think was much of a case."
As a result of that case, Apple transferred €13bn to the Irish Exchequer last year. Mr Martin will no doubt be preparing a response.
But if business and economic ties are to be the focus from the Irish side, then Gaza will prove a more difficult topic.
Mr Martin has committed to raising it with the US President, saying he would not shy away from contentious topics. How he raises it remains unclear.
Pressed by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald about what exactly he would tell Mr Trump on Gaza, Mr Martin said: "In terms of the Middle East, let us be clear. We want to consolidate the ceasefire and will be making that point very strongly.
"We want a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"The Arab peace initiatives and proposals in respect of Gaza have come through, which have a lot to commend themselves."
There is said to be extensive lobbying in the US to the effect that Ireland is anti-Israel, and the closure of the Israeli embassy in Ballsbridge was seen as something designed to send out a message to the US about Ireland and to upset the traditionally strong ties.
The diplomatic challenge ahead of Mr Martin will extend beyond Mr Trump and the Oval Office.
There will be a breakfast engagement with Vice President JD Vance, who has taken an interest in Irish affairs.
But there is a strong view around Leinster House that if anyone is the right person for the job it's Mr Martin.
He has experience meeting difficult delegations, having served twice as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he can think on his feet and is someone who has the levers to meet any unexpected curve balls that might come his way.
