The Presidential inauguration ceremony, while very moving and weighted with a sense of occasion and history, was an event made for television.
Just as the accession ceremony for the 10 new member states of the European Union was choreographed on May 1st, the inauguration was meticulously, superbly timed and planned.
Every word and movement was carefully mapped out weeks in advance, as soon as it became clear Mrs McAleese would be returned for a second term unopposed.
Nothing - or almost nothing - could go wrong. The President arrived at noon in a gleaming 1948 Rolls Royce, accompanied by motorcycle outriders drawn from the 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, commanded by Captain Micheál Conneely.
But just as the President emerged from St Patrick's Hall to greet the cheering guests assembled in the courtyard, the beautiful dark blue Rolls that would take her back to the Aras decided to give up the ghost.
Her driver, Mr Mick O'Hora, barely registered a flicker of concern as he repeatedly attempted to start the car. It did, eventually, glide forward at the precise moment it was needed.
The short inauguration ceremony, during which Mrs McAleese made her declaration and received her seal of office from the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Murray, was preceded by an inter-faith service, at which eight different religious figures officiated.
Representatives of some 17 community and voluntary groups were invited to the event by Mrs McAleese. They included youth groups, those with disabilities, the elderly, immigrant groups, Travellers, sports clubs, missionaries, carers, the homeless, prison officers and the reserve defence forces.
The ceremony was attended by the Taoiseach and the other members of the Government, as well as former presidents Mrs Mary Robinson and Dr Patrick Hillery. Former Taoisigh present included Mr Liam Cosgrave, Dr Garret FitzGerald and Mr Albert Reynolds who are also members of the Council of State.
The guests prompting the most media attention were the Taoiseach's daughter Ms Georgina Ahern and her husband, Westlife singer Nicky Byrne. Most of the Dáil seemed to be present, along with a number of senators and prominent public figures.
Some 700 school children from primary and secondary schools throughout Ireland were also invited to the event. A number of children from different communities and backgrounds recited prayers of intercession during the service.
The musical accompaniment by Moya Brennan, Liam O'Flynn and the Army No 1 Band, lifted the roof of St Patrick's Hall.
Liam O'Flynn, who seven years ago composed An Droichead(The Bridge) especially for the President's inauguration, wrote a new piece entitled Onward Journey. He performed the piece on the uilleann pipes, accompanied by Sean Keane of The Chieftains and Rod McVey on keyboards.
For those interested in the fashion side of such events, the colour of choice for the women present was pink, in all its varying shades from dusty through to electric. The leader of the Seanad, Ms Mary O'Rourke, shunned the trend and was resplendent in bright red.
Mrs McAleese chose the Irish designer Ms Aideen Bodkin to dress her for the occasion. She wore a suit of dark magenta woven silk and a dark aubergine coat in a cashmere and wool mix. For this evening's reception hosted by the Government, Mrs McAleese will wear an ankle-length tailored coat in amethyst blue silk velvet over a coral pink shift dress designed by Deborah Veale.
Mrs McAleese returned to Áras an Úachtaráin to host a lunch for her guests. The menu, reporters were told, consisted of potato, carrot and coriander soup, baked supreme of salmon with champ and gratin of leek, followed by a chocolate and orange parfait with a pear sauce. The guests toasted her inauguration to her second term as Uachtarán na hÉireann with Louis Roederer Champagne.