It was a brief and low-key event, a photocall snatched between the rain showers which fell with tropical intensity in Dublin yesterday. But for the central figure, artist Derek Hill, it was "the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in Ireland. I am thrilled beyond words, touched, delighted".
The occasion was the announcement that the Government had decided to make him an honorary Irish citizen, on the nomination of two Ministers, Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, and Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Ms de Valera. The ceremony will be conducted by the President, Mrs McAleese, at a date to be determined on her return from Australia.
The two Ministers involved had invited the artist to join them on the steps of Government buildings for the announcement. As the photographers clicked, Derek Hill said: "Let me look a little more like James. James is always so immaculate."
Indeed, the Minister for Tourism looked as if he was posing for one of the portraits the artist paints - hands clasped in front of him, one foot stuck forward, looking into the distance. Ms de Valera was more informal, chatting to Mr Hill about the opening of his retrospective exhibition in the RHA in Dublin tomorrow.
He asked the two Ministers to pose for him to take a photograph. But that would leave him out, so a volunteer was sought to use his camera. The photographers demurred, and the task was left to Ms de Valera's press secretary.
"Am I allowed an Irish passport as part of this?" Mr Hill asked the Ministers. Dr McDaid thought the ceremony included the presentation of a passport, he would look into it.
In a way, Derek Hill is already an honorary Irishman. He told The Irish Times he had been nominated Irishman of the Year two years ago. He also said he had Irish connections. Although his immediate family was not Irish, his aunt married an O'Mahony and visited Ireland during his school holidays as a child.
He joins only 10 other people who have been granted honorary Irish citizenship: Sir Chester Beatty, Dr and Mrs Herrema, Mr and Mrs "Tip" O'Neill, Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit, Mr and Mrs Jack Charlton and Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith. Sir Chester Beatty and Sir Alfred Beit also gave art collections to the nation.
Born in Southampton in 1916, Mr Hill has lived in Dr McDaid's constituency, near Glenveagh, Co Donegal, for over 40 years. There he bought St Columb's, a former rectory, at the time a small fishing hotel, and he moved into it in 1954.
Seventeen years ago he presented this building, along with his collection of more than 300 works by various 20th century artists, to the nation, now open to the public as the Glebe House and Gallery.
Although he has travelled widely all his life he started spending his summers on Tory Island in 1958, painting its rocks and cliffs.