The euphoria surrounding the Northern peace process sometimes reaches epic proportions. It's a change from the long years of doom and gloom, but occasionally it causes some politicians to lose the run of themselves. The North's political affairs minister, Paul Murphy - the Welshman with the Irish name - deserves much of the credit for bringing the weary months of inter-party negotiation to conclusion with the Belfast Agreement. However, there were chuckles at the British-Irish Association conference in St Anne's College, Oxford, last weekend, when he declared in his after-dinner speech that Northern Ireland was "the greatest success story of the 20th century".
This year the mood at the gathering, otherwise known as Toffs against Terrorism, was better than ever, with real optimism replacing the constant hope that permeated even the bleakest times. The Northern Secretary, Mo Mowlam, currently on holiday in the US, wasn't there. Dublin was represented by Minister of State, Eamon O Cuiv.
Among all the politicians, civil servants and pundits, the real principals were the new First Minister and Deputy First Minister, David Trimble and Seamus Mallon. They were the stars and the stage was left very much to them. Trimble, in particular, had never been observed so relaxed and accessible. Indeed, he even made a humorous remark. Exactly three years ago he was elected leader of his party. The news had been received with total gloom at the British-Irish Association gathering at the time. The UUP leader said he had been told this by the one person at Oxford who didn't agree with the view that he would be a disaster.