Oblivious to the historic events about to unfold right under their noses, the local wildlife were going about their business in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
Cattle munched grass in the fields. Deer relaxed under trees. Squirrels scratched busily at the ground.
Some species not normally spotted before lunchtime on regular Sunday mornings were also visible in the park. These included newshounds, and (Charlie) birds, along with a couple of vultures.
Then shortly before 8am, a flurry of excitement went through the pack as Bertie Ahern arrived at Arás an Uachtaráin.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed despite the early hour he went into President Mary McAleese's private study to see whether she was game.
She was, as it turned out. A minute or so later they entered the drawing room and perched on two gilt chairs in front of an antique desk.
They made an eye-catching pair. Him in a pin-striped suit, pink tie, teamed with a pale pink shirt and glinting gold cufflinks. Her in a deep purple skirt suit by Irish designer Louise Kennedy - and a helmet of Thatcherite hair. Any preening was of the subtle variety despite the clicking cameras.
The ending of the 29th Dáil happened in moments. Bertie signed the request for dissolution before clasping his hands and taking the chance to observe the President in her natural habitat.
With the concentration of a birdwatcher, he waited while she, in turn, signed the wordy proclamation of dissolution.
There were more niceties in the study before President McAleese went off, presumably to pack her suitcases for her trip to America.
Outside, the media waited for a few crumbs from the Taoiseach's table. Was he looking forward to the next few weeks? "I am looking forward to it massively," he said in a chirpy fashion. Do you think you will win? "We'll do our best, I hope so," he allowed.
As his car drove off, the Taoiseach wore, what he might call, a massively wide grin on his face.
If only the entire election campaign was easy like Sunday mornin'.