The ballroom of one of the most famous hotels in the world, the Oriental in Bangkok, never saw a musical presentation quite like it.
The roof of this most splendid of venues was raised last night by three of Ireland's most gifted musicians as they performed at a function to mark the first visit to Thailand of an Irish head of state.
Zoe Conway, Fionán De Barra and Robbie Harris even had the normally sedate Thai dignitaries gathered in honour of the President, Mrs McAleese, tapping their feet as they enthralled the audience with reels, hornpipes, slow airs and enchanting melodies.
There was no doubt the Irish had hit town - in force.
Mrs McAleese arrived after a 20-hour flight in crowded and muggy Bangkok yesterday for the start of a three-day official visit to Thailand.
"I first came here 12 years ago with my husband Martin and 50 dentists. It is a very devoted wife who would do that for her husband," she told a gathering of 300 people.
Mrs McAleese spoke of her delight at coming back to "this fascinating country" as President of Ireland. "I am so proud to be here among your beautiful, gentle people," she told the Thai Foreign Minister, Dr Surakiaart Sathirathai, at a reception for the Irish Community and Friends of Ireland hosted by the Ambassador, Mr Dan Mulhall, and his wife Greta.
The President, who travels to Malaysia next Monday for a three-day state visit there, told the gathering she hoped to see stronger ties forged between Ireland and South-East Asian countries in the future.
She spoke of the deepening links between Ireland and Thailand, which she said were underpinned by the steadily increasing volume of bilateral trade.
Both countries also shared important perspectives on international issues. Mrs McAleese said this was highlighted by the fact that Irish and Thai soldiers had served side-by-side on several UN peace-keeping missions, including in East Timor.
The President said Thailand was also a "welcome" co-sponsor of an important Irish-initiated UN resolution aimed at the creation of a nuclear weapons-free world.
"We greatly appreciated support from Thailand which helped make possible our current membership of the UN Security Council where we have sought to give active voice to the values we share with so may countries."
She looked forward to Ireland making an active contribution to the strengthening of relations between South-East Asia and Europe when the Republic takes on the EU presidency in January 2004.
The President, who is accompanied on the visit by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, and an Enterprise Ireland trade mission, was greeted at Bangkok airport yesterday afternoon by the Thai deputy Prime Minister, Prof Dej Boon-Long.
She told members of the Irish community that they were Ireland's "eyes, ears, hands and minds" in Thailand, holding together the networks and beginning of simple friendships through which so many things grow.
She spoke of how the links between Ireland and Thailand first started with the arrival of Irish religious orders to the country in the mid-19th century. Now, she said, Thai people were among many nationalities coming to Ireland in increasing numbers to undertake English language courses.
The President said Ireland was fortunate to have a major collection of 60 illustrated Thai manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Library, considered one of the finest in the world outside of Thailand.
The library is producing a catalogue of its Thai collections to be published by a Bangkok company.
Mrs McAleese will today launch the new Asia-Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the first official Irish business presence in Thailand, and the first Irish chamber to be established in Asia.
She will also have a meeting at Government House with the Thai Prime Minister, Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, before flying to Hua Hin for an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On Saturday, Mrs McAleese will join young Irish people from all over Asia in Phuket for the annual Asian Gaelic Games. The event is raising money for a children's project in Bangkok run by Father Joe Meir and for an AIDS project in Phuket.