A PALL of gloom has been cast over the normally festive events of St Patrick's week in the United States by the end of the IRA ceasefire.
In place of lively entertainment, there will be prayers for peace by members of the clergy at a St Patrick's Day reception hosted by President Clinton at the White House in honour of the Taoiseach and Mrs Bruton on Friday.
The type of entertainment which characterised the function in 1995 would not be appropriate in the circumstances, a senior administration official said.
Last year the party ended with the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, and the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, singing together Phil Coulter's song about Derry, The Town I Love So Well.
Mr Adams has been excluded from the reception this year because of the end of the IRA ceasefire. However, other Northern Ireland party leaders, including Mr David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr Hume, and Dr John Alderdice of the Alliance Party, will be attending.
The White House had intended the affair to be all inclusive, bringing together every party leader from Northern Ireland.
The return of IRA violence has, however, brought about a situation rich in irony, which many Irish Americans who promoted the peace process find difficult to countenance.
Already demoralised by the set backs in a process they enthusiastically endorsed, they now see unionist leaders being honoured in Washington and Mr Adams shut out. Their anger has been largely directed at the IRA for bringing about this turn of events.
The Ulster Unionist leader and his party colleagues, Mr John Taylor MP and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, have also been invited to the annual Speaker's lunch, the high point of Irish American celebrations on Capitol Hill, from which Mr Adams is also barred.
A year ago the Sinn Fein leader had his first handshake with Mr Clinton at the event, which is being hosted by House Speaker Newt Gingrich for Mr Bruton.
For probably the first time since it was instituted by Speaker Tip O'Neill in the early 1980s, the President will not be a guest at the Speaker's lunch. Mr Clinton will be attending a mid week conference on terrorism in Cairo.
Many Irish Americans are also dismayed at divisions opening up within their own ranks over how to react to Mr Adams's presence in the US.
The Sinn Fein leader, who arrives in New York tomorrow, is still regarded as a key peacemaker by most Irish American politicians. These include Senator Edward Kennedy, even though he has followed the Dublin line and will not meet Mr Adams while there is no IRA ceasefire.
Mr Adams is sure of a warmer reception from supporters at a peace rally in New York and at the New York St Patrick's Day parade. The Grand Marshal is Mr William Flynn, an architect of the Irish American peace strategy.
But a number of those who only reluctantly embraced him as a peacemaker, like veteran columnist Mary McGrory of the Washington Post, are now asking why Mr Adams is coming to Washington and embarrassing those who feel they should not meet him because of the IRA bombs.
Although he is barred from the White House and the State Department, an "off campus" meeting between officials and Mr Adams this week is not ruled out, officials said.
The crucial point, however, which is obscured by the diplomatic tizzy over who goes where, is that the White House still sees Mr Adams as a committed peacemaker.
"We think he's helpful and we want to see whether or not he can help put the ceasefire back in place," a senior administration official said. Official contacts with Mr Adams have continued by telephone.
The US National Security Adviser, Mr Anthony Lake, will be in Cairo with Mr Clinton and any talks will likely be organised by his deputy, Ms Nancy Soderberg.
Mr Clinton will make a strong appeal for an end to violence and a restoration of the ceasefire when he receives the Irish American of the Year award today in New York from Irish America magazine, published by Mr Niall O'Dowd.
Officials said he would emphasise the need to stand up against violence on the eve of a historic opportunity for all party talks. He will be presented, with the award by last year's recipient, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith.
Despite Government policy that Ministers shall not meet Sinn Fein while there is no ceasefire, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, will attend an American Ireland Fund dinner in Washington on Thursday evening at which Mr Adams is also expected to be a guest.
Officials say the Taoiseach's attendance at the dinner, which will be attended by hundreds of American, British and Irish guests, does not reflect a change in policy, as Mr Bruton will not be formally meeting the Sinn Fein leader. However, Mr Trimble may boycott the dinner if Mr Adams attends.