The poor suburb of Sao Rafael came to a standstill yesterday when the President, Mrs McAleese, arrived by helicopter.
The crowds and the chanting were not for her, however, but for her host, the mayor of Sao Paulo, Ms Marta Suplicy, a charismatic figure who is tipped as a successor to Brazil's President Lula.
Mrs McAleese had come to view an example of the mayor's great education project, integrated community schools in deprived areas used by children during the day and later by the local people.
Sao Rafael is the sixth such school opening this week and the 18th in all. Two schools are planned for the indigenous population, the Guarani and Curucutus Indians.
"I have seen many schools around the world but I have never, ever seen a school as magnificent as this," Mrs McAleese said.
There was an excellence in everything and thoughtfulness in planning which showed enormous respect for those who used the place and would open up their lives to great opportunities.
She told the mayor: "You said to me that if you did nothing else in your career this would be enough. If I never saw another place in my life about social inclusion this would be enough."
The President flew in by helicopter from the roof of the Boston Bank, next to her hotel.
From the air she saw the vastness of Sao Paulo stretching out of sight in all directions, with the high-rises, wealthy houses and pools, the vast road network and the shanty towns laid out below.
Children chanted in Portuguese: "Where are you, Marta? I have come here to see you" as the President stepped from her helicopter, and one woman shouted at the Irish party: "Tell Marta to pave our streets".
Heavily armed police were much in evidence, both inside and outside the 2,400 pupil school. As the presidential party left Sao Paulo for Rio de Janeiro last night they were seen off from the hotel by Mr Myles McGourty, regional vice-president of Hyatt International and a native of Leitrim.