When President Clinton left Shannon airport on Saturday night there was no declaration of his "returning to see old Shannon's face again in the springtime", as John Kennedy had said in June 1963.
On a misty night there was just a polite wave from President Clinton and his wife before they took their seats on Air Force One for the six-hour flight to Andrews military field in Maryland, near Washington.
However, President Clinton did tell the Taoiseach that they "would come back to Ireland some time in the year 2002 or 2003 as private citizens". The President also told Mr Ahern that he "really appreciated the hospitality. Thank you for three wonderful days in Ireland". He also expressed his pleasure "that the peace process had moved on considerably during the past week". The Taoiseach said that he thanked Mr Clinton for what he had done to help with that advancement.
The President arrived at Shannon from Ballybunion at 3.30 p.m. in the presidential helicopter, flown by the US Marine Corps. It was one of a flotilla of seven helicopters that made the 35 air miles from the GAA pitch opposite the golf links, taking 35 minutes.
Mrs Clinton arrived at the airport earlier, having spent the afternoon touring the attractions of north Clare, from O'Brien's Castle on the Cliffs of Moher to Fanore.
With a party of 17, including officials from the State Department, the Irish Embassy in Washington and Shannon Development, and with an escort of 20 security personnel, the 10-car cavalcade stopped at the Doolin craft gallery for lunch. Later, they indulged in a shopping spree at the gallery, where Mrs Clinton bought some dresswear and jewellery.
Expressing an interest in rural architecture, she was presented by Mr Matt O'Connell, owner of the gallery, with a gift of the Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape, produced by Cork University Press. He also gave her a copy of a recent history of the Burren by Mr Gordon D'Arcy and The Women of Ireland by Cyril and Kit O Ceirin.
Later Mrs Clinton walked three miles across the Burren by the Green Road to Fermoyle and then went on to Blackhead. Back at Shannon she left the party which had gathered near Airforce One and joined her husband in the helicopter 150 feet away. They walked down the steps hand-in-hand and joined the Taoiseach and his party, which included the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, and the Minister for the Arts and Culture, Ms de Valera. Mrs Clinton also thanked those who had been hosts during the Irish visit.