Jean Kennedy Smith's highly successful term in Dublin is inevitably on the final lap, although most Washington observers believe that she will stay until May or June to see the peace process wrapped up - hopefully. Other non-career ambassadors who served during Bill Clinton's first term have been replaced, but J.K.S. got an extension.
So who will succeed her? John Hume confided at the reception in his honour at the residence of our Ambassador to the US, Sean O hUiginn, this week: "There are four people here tonight hoping to succeed Jean Kennedy Smith in Dublin." He would not name names, but we know who he meant.
Mark Gearan is head of the Peace Corps and formerly White House head of communications. He is close to Clinton and a lifelong Democrat, but would not be a big fundraiser like another aspirant, Paul Quinn, the top Washington lawyer who is said to be lobbying hard for the job. He recently hosted a reception in Washington's Phoenix Park Hotel for loyalists, David Ervine and Gary McMichael, and is a cousin of Jack Quinn, former White House chief counsel and chief of staff to the US vice president, Al Gore.
John Sweeney, president of the huge AFL-CIO labour federation, whose parents came from Co Leitrim, is also mentioned as a future ambassador. A strong supporter of Clinton in the 1996 election, his organisation spent millions of dollars targeting vulnerable Republican seats in Congress.
Tom Donahue, a former president of the AFL-CIO for a brief period, is also said to be interested. He was grand marshal of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Washington last year. Another wealthy Democratic donor, who was not at the reception, Elizabeth Frawley-Bagley, is the dark horse. She has just finished a stint as US ambassador to Portugal, so would be well qualified. She is also a good friend of John Hume.