The new Northern Ireland was showcased in the United States today by Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness and one of his one-time leading critics, Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Peter Robinson.
The Deputy First Minister in the new power-sharing government at Stormont and its Finance Minister took centre stage at the opening of the prestigious annual Smithsonian Festival in Washington.
The Northern Ireland involvement in the festival was the culmination of a months-long drive - Rediscover Northern Ireland - which began on St Patrick's Day and is aimed at selling the North as a place in which to do business and to visit for pleasure.
Mr McGuinness declared to his American audience: "The war is well and truly over". He said he had visited the US on many previous occasions, but this time it was different.
"I am here not just as the representative of one part of the community, today I am proud, honoured and humbled to speak to you as the joint leader of an administration which represents our entire society.
"A society not just in transition but in transformation; a society moving from division to one united in our celebration of diversity."
The business of building a better future had begun, he said, adding: "For decades, indeed centuries, our history was one of conflict, division and war. That part of our history is at an end. The war is well and truly over."
On display at the festival in the National Mall are musicians, dancers, sports coaches, mural artists, cooks, biomass technicians, historians and drum makers - more than 160 people from all over Northern Ireland.
Mr McGuinness told the Smithsonian opening: "When you meet our performers and participants you will see at first hand the vibrancy, diversity and creativity of our cultural life and its influence here in the United States and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised."
Mr Robinson, standing in for First Minister and DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley, urged Americans to visit Northern Ireland - telling them they would be in no doubt about the astounding progress that was being made.