"IS féidir linn." Barack Obama tested out the Irish translation of the iconic 'yes we can' phrase which swept him into the White House.

It was an extraordinary day, a flash of green amid the global gloom, a beacon of hope in the midst of much change. And a sign that America will stand side by side with us as we strive to overcome the greatest economic challenge in our history.

Sporting a green tie and his trademark mile-wide smile, President Obama embraced his Irish roots as he welcomed Taoiseach Brian Cowen into the White House early yesterday. The Irish economy may be in the wars, and the Irish Government may be embattled on the home front, but the newly-minted American president went to enormous lengths to celebrate both St Patrick's Day and the bond between the two countries.

Mr Obama lavished praise on the Irish almost from the moment that Mr Cowen set foot in the Oval Office.

As the pair sat side by side in the room which has shaped so much of the history of the world, and as they stood side by side afterwards in the iconic Roosevelt Room with a bowl of shamrock between them, it was all about the little country that has boxed above its weight for so long, and is now staggering about punch-drunk from economic shocks.

But Barack is in our corner, and talked at length about the contributions of the Irish to the American story.

"Irish signatures are on our founding documents, Irish blood has been spilled on our battlefields, Irish sweat went into building our greatest cities, we're better for their contributions to democracy and we're richer for their art and their literature, their poetry and their songs," he said.

"Rarely in world history has a nation so small had so large an impact."

Nobody knew what to expect of this year's ceremony. Under the Clinton administration, the Irish were practically given the keys of the White House on March 17. Under the Bush administration, the St Patrick's Day honours were a more perfunctory affair.

But it quickly became clear that the 44th President of the United States had discovered his inner Celt. When the media filed through the Oval Office for what's normally a quick photo opportunity, it was clear that the Offaly ancestry of Barack Obama had already been the subject of some discussion between himself and the Taoiseach.

"We may be cousins," laughed the president. "But even if by blood we're not related, by culture and affinity, by friendship and mutual interests we are certainly related," he added.

But Brian was ready with a bit of banter back.

"It's great to meet a man whose forebears are from my own electoral district. President Obama said he looks forward to coming to Offaly -- the only thing I can say to him is that he is not going to share a slate with me -- I cannot compete with this man, even in Offaly," he joked.

Throughout the morning, this bond between the two countries was something the president returned to time and again. At the shamrock ceremony he lavished more praise on the Irish.

"The bond between our countries could not be stronger, as somebody who comes from Chicago, I know a little bit about Ireland -- and the warmth and the good humour and the fierce passion and intelligence of the Irish people is something that is important to our culture as well," he told a small audience that was sprinkled with friends of the Irish -- including US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and George Mitchell, the Middle East envoy and lynchpin of the Good Friday Agreement.

There was a serious moment during the light-hearted shamrock ceremony when Mr Obama spoke of the recent violence that has bedevilled the North. He offered his support to the North's peace process yesterday, and praised the people and politicians of the North in the wake of the recent violence.

"They responded heroically," he said. "They and their leaders on both sides have condemned this violence and refrained from the old partisan impulses.

"They know the future is too important to cede to those who are mired in the past. The thoughts and prayers of Americans everywhere go out to the families of the fallen, and I want everyone listening to know this -- the United States will always stand with those who work towards peace. After seeing former adversaries working together this week I have never been more confident that peace will prevail."

Mr Obama undoubtedly has the gift of the gab. He simply opens his mouth and graceful oratory tumbles out like pearls.

He accepted the cut-glass bowl of green from Brian Cowen by remarking, "not only does it symbolise the deep and enduring bond between our people, but it serves as a hopeful reminder that whatever hardships the winter may bring, the eternal promise of springtime is always around the corners".

Hope

And perhaps inspired by the effortless fluency of his host, Brian Cowen rose to the occasion. "It is my firm conviction that America's leadership -- your leadership -- will be at the heart of the global renaissance," he told the president.

"Time and again in our history, we have looked to America for leadership on the long and often very difficult road to peace. At the darkest moments, the United States has been a constant source of hope -- a reservoir of support and a steady and trusted guide."

It was all remarkably relaxed, apart from the unblinking phalanx of secret service that shadow the president's every move, even within the cosy confines of the White House and along the echoey corridors of Capitol Hill, where the Taoiseach was guest of honour at the annual lunch hosted by the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

Even here, in the heartland of serious partisan trench warfare between Republicans and Democrats, warm humour prevailed as enemies from both sides suspended hostilities for St Patrick's Day. But a playful president couldn't resist having a dig at the roomful of politicians in front of him who were tucking into smoked salmon and crab and avocado, and lamb chops on crispy fried potatoes.

"Looking at all of you, I'm reminded that President Reagan, who was often a guest at this gathering, said that on St Patrick's Day you should spend time with saints and scholars," explained the president, who then paused. "So I have two more stops to make," he wisecracked, as all sides of the room roared.

It was heady stuff, and perhaps it's something the strutting family of the Celtic Tiger has taken for granted in recent years while we were in the money.

But the fact that Brian Cowen could sit and chat unhindered for almost an hour to the President of the United States, then have him lavish praise on our beleaguered country, while publically pledging support and friendship at a unique ceremony, followed by lunch on Capitol Hill and then an evening party in the Taoiseach's honour, is almost mind-boggling in these humbler times.

And it wasn't just all talk, either. During the meeting Mr Obama confirmed that he was going to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland and then he also unveiled his "great friend" Dan Rooney as the new US ambassador to Ireland.

Impressive

Maybe it was the Offaly connection, maybe it was the need to have as many allies as possible in these turbulent times, but there was little sign of formality between Brian and Barack. Afterwards, the Taoiseach praised the president as "a very impressive statesman, a very engaging person".

"He's a person of enormous political charisma," he said, and this was no exaggeration.

Barack Obama does spread charisma like fairy dust around every room he's in. He was delighted when Brian Cowen taught him 'Is feidir linn'.

He said it a couple of times, and dammit if it didn't sound just as good in Irish.

Times may be tough, but with the 44th president now officially a son of Ireland, it's hard not to feel that someone quite special has now got our back.

Is feidir linn suddenly doesn't sound all that impossible.

- Lise Hand in Washington DC