"This is the most important landing since [French general] Humbert in 1798," said Enda as he hopped from his car and strode across Killala pier to chat to the media - a speedy handshaking detour en route to greet waiting local fans.
He was accorded a warm welcome by the several dozen people gathered in sunshine and a light Mayo breeze.
There was water aplenty lapping the beach and harbour in Killala - but not an on-shore water protester in sight.
The Taoiseach was soon out on the water with Chris Bake, the Dutch-Kiwi businessman and main investor in Aqua Comms, the company behind the laying of a 5,475km fibre optic cable across the Atlantic, from Long Island to Mayo.
On Friday, with the help of the Irish Lights vessel the Granuaile, the laying began. She started a few hundred metres out, divers pulling the cable ashore while the ship would carry on laying to a point about 4km off-shore.
From there another vessel, the Reliance, would take over the task, relay-race like, and begin laying further out towards the US.
Whizzing data
By the end of the year, the connection will be made to Long Island and beyond, and early in 2016 data will start whizzing back and forth between Europe and the US.
The Taoiseach and Mr Bake were whisked across the waves in a Coast Guard rigid inflatable boat (Rib), media following in their wake.
Bobbing about, the Granuaile and a Coast Guard helicopter as backdrop, Mr Kenny gave Mr Bake a short lesson in Irish history.
“Granuaile,” he said, eyes narrowed, leaning into the businessman as though imparting classified Gaelic information, “she was a pirate queen; late 1500s; Grainne of the Waves.
“A formidable woman; patrolled the coast around here, up and down, gave Queen Elizabeth trouble. . .”
The media also had great trouble getting their own and the Taoiseach’s Ribs lined up properly so that the cable-laying from Granuaile’s stern could form the backdrop for a thumbs-up, handshake shot they all hoped would be the image of the occasion.
Adult finger
In the coming months, the ocean floor will be straddled by the $300 million (€270 million) cable in three sections. It is but the thickness of an adult finger, with the fibre optic threads protected by sheaths of high density polyethylene and copper.
The threads at the core appear thinner than strands of human hair, yet they have the capacity to carry one third of all the telephone calls in the world and, simultaneously, 1.6 million ultra high definition video channels and 32 million 4G telephone calls.
Selling point
The speed at which data can be transmitted in either direction is 53.8 milliseconds - a huge selling point. Contrary to popular assumption, a tiny fraction of current IT traffic goes by satellite; most is by fibre optic, and with traffic exploding, transmission demand is outstripping capacity to deliver.
The cable is expected to be a boon to companies such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Paypal, Facebook and a myriad of lesser known players in the market.
“This allows Ireland to move with the digital changes that are happening worldwide,” Mr Kenny told a marquee packed with locals, official personnel, Aqua Comms staff and other business people.
“The majority of the world’s IT firms have invested in Ireland and need technology at this level. Ireland and Killala were at the vanguard of fulfilling this need,” he said, with delight.
For Aqua Comms to make money on their huge investment, they need cable users.
“There’s a big sales job to be done,” said Alan Clarke, an Aqua director. “A significant amount of capacity is available for sale.”
