One in every four U.S. Presidents has had family roots in Northern Ireland. But last week President Bill Clinton became the first U.S. President ever to visit the troubled land.
For 25 years, Protestants and Roman Catholics have fought violent battles over whether Northern Ireland should be ruled by Catholic Ireland or Protestant Britain. Last year they agreed to seek peace.
Last week Clinton met with both Protestant and Catholic leaders, asking them to respect the agreement. "You must not allow the ship of peace to sink on the rocks of hard grudges," he said.
Northern Ireland's grudges are hard for its people to forget. Still, Catholics and Protestants gave the President a warm welcome. In Belfast, the capital, 100,000 watched him light the huge Christmas tree he brought as a gift.
A Protestant boy and a Catholic girl spoke about what peace means to them. Catherine Hamill, 8, recalled the day her father was killed during the troubles between the two sides. "My Christmas wish," she said, "is that peace and love will last in Ireland forever."