The Government hopes its plans for a high-tech "digital district" centred on the St James's Gate area will be boosted by today's visit to the Guinness Storehouse by President Clinton.
The Clinton visit is undoubtedly a publicity coup for the brewer and its new hospitality venue, which will host almost 2,000 guests for today's buffet lunch.
For the Guinness marketing team, it should wipe away the unhappy memories of 1995 when President Clinton was photographed in a Dublin pub drinking a pint of Murphys.
But the stout rivalry will seem small beer compared to the drive now beginning to turn the district around the brewery into a centre for the most modern industries.
In his address at the Storehouse, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to draw a parallel between the entrepreneurship of Arthur Guinness and his foundation of the brewery, and the entrepreneurs leading today's technology firms.
The Media Lab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is now being installed in the Hopstore - the former Guinness visitors' centre at the brewery - and it is hoped it will act as a magnet for computer and media firms and other investors which could lead to several thousand jobs in the area.
President Clinton will also address those gathered at the Storehouse today and Irish officials hope he will find a way to draw a tangible link between his presidency and the Government's plans for the area.
The Government believes up to 25 multinationals might be persuaded to locate in the area and it will offer tax breaks and other grants for investment, modelled on the IFSC and the Temple Bar schemes.
A number of universities are being canvassed and, in addition to high-tech firms, there will be a stress on music and the arts.
A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach noted the final decision to go with the Storehouse as the centre for the visit was a joint one between the Irish and American delegations, both of which, she said, were "very impressed" by the venue.
One of the alternative locations considered was Dublin Castle.
But it is understood it was ruled out because many of its rooms were already committed to other functions.
There will be a free lunch today for the Guinness guests - but not for Guinness. One factor which will not have hindered the decision to go to the Storehouse was the brewer's willingness to pick up most of the tab.
Guinness's corporate affairs spokesman, Mr Pat Barry, would not disclose how much the company had to spend on staging the event but he said the costs were "fairly significant".
The money is expected to be well spent, however. While Mr Barry said it was impossible to quantify the benefits of such an event he noted, in something of an understatement, "it's a very exciting opportunity".
