During almost four years at the helm of the first phase of the Northern peace process, Senator George Mitchell was a busy man.
Over the weekend in Cork, he was even busier, collecting the Freedom of the City, an honorary degree from UCC, standing ovations and exceptional tributes.
He is quiet-spoken and exudes patience. He agreed to all requests for interviews, listened to a plethora of speeches, made a few himself and gave everyone his time.
The people who gathered both at UCC and City Hall for the two formal ceremonies were clearly present to meet and acknowledge a central figure in modern Irish history. They wanted to shake his hand and pass a few moments with him.
At the Freedom of the City ceremony, there were poetry readings, Irish music and dance, brass bands, and all the pomp the city could muster. Many years ago, another American Democrat - John F. Kennedy - received the same honour.
Mr Mitchell said he had rarely received such a welcome in any city. In a sense, he was coming home, because he knew that his parents had emigrated to the US from Cork. They were originally Kilroys - from where has not been established - and he was orphaned at a young age in the US.
But when he became a member of the Mitchell family, his father, Joe, always told him if success came his way, he should work to help others. He had remembered that advice when asked to become involved in the Northern talks.
At UCC, where he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws, the outgoing president, Prof Michael Mortell, also spoke of Mr Mitchell's unique talents.
The Mitchell memoirs should be written, Prof Mortell said, and where better to do so than at UCC, where, at some point in the future, he might consider the role of visiting professor of history.
Senator Mitchell said that his dream for the future was to sit some day in the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber with his son as a guest to watch the democratic process in operation, in a climate where violence was a thing of the past.