There was warm weather and an even warmer welcome for Grand National hero Nick Rockett as the people of Leighlinbridge got their chance to get up close with their latest Aintree hero.
They are getting used to victory parades in this part of the world, as last year, both Galopin Des Champs and I Am Maximus received accolades after their Cheltenham and Aintree exploits.
As one proud Leighlinbridge local put it, "Willie keeps putting us on the map, year in and year out."
Willie Mullins is well used to big days, but the fact that son Patrick was the one who guided Nick Rockett to Grand National Glory is still sinking in.
"It feels like nothing on earth," said Mr Mullins.
"I mean, can you imagine putting your son on a team to win this? The minute I thought he had a chance, I just enjoyed the whole lot, I just couldn't breathe the last two furlongs, I thought, this is really going to happen!"
Patrick Mullins had similar feelings to his father: "Every son wants to make his father proud, you know my father wouldn't be a hugely outward kind of emotional person, so to see the pleasure he got made it extra special for me."
Recent days have been extra special for the horse's owner Stewart Andrew. Mr Andrew bought Nick Rockett alongside his wife Sadie, a former national school classmate of Mr Mullins.
Sadly, she passed away two and a half years ago, her husband has been enjoying the Rockett ride for both of them.
"It's like having a ride on a magic carpet, and I don't actually want to get off yet. I want the ride to carry on. It's taken a long time to sink in, but it's fantastic."
Watch: Grand National winner Nick Rockett's homecoming
No doubt the celebrations will continue into another night, but it will be back to business for Mr Mullins from tomorrow.
Next on the agenda is the Scottish Grand National meeting in Ayr this week.
Saddling four of the first five home at Aintree saw him make huge inroads into Dan Skelton's lead in the British Trainers Championship.
There are three weeks left in the season, and Mr Mullins is now odds on to repeat last year's success, when he became the first Irish based trainer to take the British title.
Mr Mullins has hinted that Nick Rockett could be a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse next year, and his son said he would love a tilt at retaining the national.
All that is for another day, as for now, the latest Closutton headline grabber is safely back in his box.
