The late-night meeting in Cornwall between Mr Ahern and Mr Blair came after differences between the Irish and British governments over the circumstances in which the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister would meet.
While the Government initially said with certainty that there would be a meeting yesterday between Mr Ahern and Mr Blair, British sources were saying the meeting would take place only if it could be seen as worthwhile.
Irish and British spokesmen last night denied there was any difference between them on the desirability of a meeting. Both the Government Press Secretary and the British Prime Minister's official spokesman pointed to the Taoiseach's statement yesterday afternoon that he was insisting on "clarity" from the ongoing discussions with the parties before travelling to meet Mr Blair. This, they said, was ad idem with the British view that a meeting was conditional on progress.
However eventually the meeting took place without such "clarity" coming from the IRA. And until yesterday afternoon the governments gave different accounts of the circumstances in which a meeting would take place.
The Government had said on Wednesday night and yesterday morning that there would be a meeting, and did not say this was conditional on progress. However, Downing Street told reporters throughout yesterday that there would be a meeting only if it was considered "worthwhile".
The first mention of a meeting came on Wednesday on the BBC, which ran a report, presumed to have come from British government sources, that the two leaders would meet at the RAF base in Northolt. The Government said on Wednesday night that this was never on the cards, but that there would be a meeting in England with Mr Blair, who was on a two-day tour of the west country to be seen to address concerns of farmers and rural voters. He said the meeting was most likely to take place at Exeter or Plymouth, but a time and venue had not yet been finalised.
Exeter University had been earmarked as a possible venue. However, it was clear yesterday morning in Exeter that no detailed preparation for such a meeting had been made. Indeed, police in the Devon town questioned a number of Irish journalists - including this correspondent - yesterday, having received a report that they were behaving suspiciously.
By early afternoon it became clear that any meeting would not be early, and that Mr Blair would certainly have left Exeter for Plymouth by the time Mr Ahern could arrive. Irish journalists intercepted Mr Blair just before he boarded the Plymouth train at Exeter's St David's Station. "I'm sorry guys," he said as he went past. "I can't answer questions on Northern Ireland at the minute, honestly."
In Dublin, the Taoiseach's office continued to speak on the assumption that a meeting would take place, but confirmed it would not be in Exeter but Plymouth where Mr Blair was attending functions.
However, upon arrival at about 4.30 p.m., it became clear that the consultations in which the Taoiseach was deeply involved were continuing later than hoped for. If there was to be a meeting, the Government spokesman said, it would be in St Austell, Cornwall.