On the day the State's professional carers took to the picket lines demanding pay increases, the Minister for Health announced a substantial increase in annual funding for family carers.
This irony was not lost on the Carers' Association, which had invited Mr Cowen to present its Carer of the Year awards in Dublin's Westbury Hotel when the strike was only a distant possibility.
The RTE broadcaster Pat Kenny, who hosted the presentation ceremony yesterday, worked out quickly that the funding increase from £30,000 to £140,000 per year was about 400 per cent.
"If the nurses hear about that percentage increase, they'll be out for the next five years," said Mr Kenny, to laughs from the audience and a hearty smile from the otherwise straight-faced Minister.
Mr Kenny also acknowledged that yesterday was "probably the most unfortunate day" for Mr Cowen to be presenting awards to five people nominated for their unpaid caring efforts.
"The Minister had many excuses he could have used not to be here today, but we are delighted that he honoured his long-standing commitment," said Mr Kenny.
Mr Cowen received a warm round of applause and made no reference to the current dispute in his speech in which he praised the vital work of family carers.
Mr Eddie Collins-Hughes from the association thanked the Minister for his funding commitment.
"I have worked closely with this man for quite a while and he has never broken his word once and I think he should be complimented on that," said Mr Collins-Hughes.
Outside the hotel before the awards presentations, curious onlookers attracted by the bunch of waiting journalists turned on their heels the minute they heard that Mr Cowen was expected.
The disappointed comments included expressions of pity ("Sod that") that the turnout wasn't for Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating, "somebody, like, famous famous" or "some really good-looking woman".
The only people who stood their ground upon hearing that Mr Cowen was on the way were two of his constituents who travelled up from Co Offaly for a day's shopping and who backed his stance on the nurses' dispute. When the Minister entered the hotel one of the women patted him on the shoulder and said: "Good luck, Brian."