Shortly after Sinn FΘin delegates had cheered Gerry Adams's presidential address to the rafters, the newly appointed American ambassador to Ireland, Mr Richard J. Egan, hurried out of the RDS Library.
Rushing into his chauffeur-driven car, he ignored journalists' calls for an interview about Mr Adams' declaration that the IRA could not be compared to Osama bin Laden's attackers.
For Sinn FΘin, however, Mr Egan's attendance was a significant diplomatic gesture from the Bush Administration, even if he looked like a man who wished he were somewhere else.
Under the usually rigid protocol rules that govern ambassadors' movements, Mr Egan should have been in Cork for the Labour National Conference, along with the rest of the diplomatic corps.
Before the applause for Mr Adams had died down, he had been ushered into a small room where television crews and photographers were carefully fed through to capture a handshake between him and Mr Adams.
The photograph will, no doubt, feature in the promotional literature of the Friends of Sinn FΘin in the United States as they try to raise funds in a dramatically changed atmosphere.
The importance of the United States for Sinn FΘin, financially and otherwise, was evident throughout. Again and again, Mr Adams and senior party figures condemned the September 11th atrocities.
Two years ago, Mr Adams said, he attended a Friends of Sinn FΘin fundraiser in the World Trade Centre. "Sadly, tragically, one of those who organised our visit is now dead. Others we met that day, or on other occasions, are dead.
"Sinn FΘin, in particular, has benefited from the generosity of Americans who want to bring about peace, equality and a United Ireland. The support of Irish America has enabled us to bring about real change in Ireland." New York construction workers had been their funding backbone. "Many of them, who follow in the footsteps of 'the Irish who built America", have suffered grievously in these atrocities, he went on.
The assaults unleashed on Sinn FΘin by the Republic's biggest political parties following the capture of three suspected IRA men in Colombia have left senior figures bitter and bruised.
"They have used this quite ruthlessly, in my view," complained Mr Martin McGuinness. "Their approach is reprehensible, a cynical attack on the entire peace process in Ireland and an intensified attempt to resurrect the failed and negative politics of the past."
Earlier, Mr Adams had rejected attempts to compare the IRA with bin Laden: "We will not be part of any effort to criminalise or to deem as terrorists those men and women who fought when they considered they had no other choice and who had the integrity, courage and wisdom to support a peace process when they had that choice."
Nevertheless, Sinn FΘin is clearly concerned that both Colombia and the US attacks could damage its performance in next year's general election, particularly its ability to attract crucial transfers.
Opponents in the Republic, said Cavan Monaghan TD Mr Caoimhgh∅n ╙ Caolβin, did not like Sinn FΘin's rise in the North "because it reminded them too much of their abandonment of the nationalist and republican people of that statelet. But since the 1997 general election, when we have really blossomed throughout this island, the alarm of the leaderships of Fianna Fβil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Democrats is palpable."
Relations with Labour are poisonous and getting worse, judging by the barbs exchanged on radio yesterday between Mr Adams and Labour leader, Mr Ruair∅ Quinn. In places, Sinn FΘin could block Labour getting a seat even if it does not get one itself.
For most delegates, coalition is a dirty word and likely to remain so. Donegal delegate Mr Pβdraig McLoughlin, who supported the decision to take up ministerial posts in the North, said: "We have a much longer-term plan here. It is too early in our political development to consider associating ourselves with parties that perpetuate injustice."
During a debate that never came to life, delegates, nevertheless, heeded calls not to rule it out as an option now: "You can still say 'No' later to coalition," said Dublin South West candidate Councillor Sean Crowe.