IT is to be hoped that the peace will be back in place by March 11th when Bill Clinton will be presented with a crystal peace-dove as Man of the Year at the prestigious annual awards of Irish America magazine. To have "the US President come to New York to attend the Plaza Hotel function is a great honour, says editor Patricia Harty, who with publisher and peace lobbyist Niall O'Dowd choose Clinton because of his work for peace in Ireland. It will be remembered, however, that last year's 14-inch high dove crashed to the ground before it reached the recipient, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. She presents the award this year. Could it have been a bad omen?
The Minister in attendance will be. Enda Kenny. FF leader Bertie Ahern is also travelling, having cancelled his planned trip to Australia, and he will be at the Riverdance opening on the Thursday as well.
Meanwhile, Ministers are finalising their St Patrick's weekend plans. Fewer than usual are travelling. Dick Spring, Proinsias de Rossa, Ruairi Quinn, Michael Noonan, Niamh Breathnach and Richard Bruton are all staying at home.
Enda Kenny will be reviewing the new-style parade in the capital.
Taoiseach John Bruton will be in Newfoundland on the day, finishing off an official visit to Canada which was cut off in September due to Anglo-Irish pressures. Mervyn Taylor will be in New York. Michael D. Higgins at l'Imaginaire Irlandais in Paris, Michael Lowry will be in Britain. Sean Barrett with the troops in Lebanon and Brendan Howlin goes to Toronto.
Ivan Yates will be at work in Brussels the Council of Agriculture Ministers does not recognise our festival.