President Mary McAleese has praised political developments in Northern Ireland over the past year under the leadership of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness.
Speaking in Belfast last night, Mrs McAleese referred to the climate of change that has pervaded the city of her birth and referred to the potential facing the whole of Ireland, North and South.
"The potential of Belfast and its genius is beginning to be revealed in these remarkable new days of tangible transition from a culture of conflict to a culture of consensus," she told the annual Aisling awards ceremony.
"The welcome return of devolved government to Northern Ireland last May was for many a realisation of a dream, a vision for a wholly fresh future."
Belfast had been transformed in the past decade, she said, and what she called "a surging new confidence" was transforming life in the city.
"2007 stands out as a year of new directions, a new sense of purpose, new relationships, new friendships," she said.
Referring to the return of a devolved Executive at Stormont, she added: "The respectful demeanour and the effective working relationship between the First Minister Rev Dr Ian Paisley and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are not only remarkable in themselves but their example is itself a dispensation to the wider community to break loose from old animosities and find in one another the strategic partnerships that will consolidate the peace and deliver prosperity widely to everyone regardless of background or belief."
The present "is undoubtedly the most exciting time ever in the history of this island", she said.
"The broken relationships within the family that is the people of Northern Ireland are beginning to mend and for the first time a generation may actually know what their genius can accomplish when it is harnessed in a common endeavour rather than wasted in fruitless conflict."
Referring to cross-Border relations, she said these were being transformed "into a good neighbourliness and a new era of partnership with huge scope to work together for the benefit of all".
She said the "historically fraught relationships between Ireland and Great Britain" had also been transformed into "a warm collegiality and a shared focus on problem-solving".
No other generation in Ireland faced such a positive future with a "warm wind at its back".
"Between us all - north, south, east and west - we have the opportunity to make this new dispensation shine, to give our children and grandchildren a blessed life, to give to those still in conflict all over the world, hope and help."
Earlier yesterday the President told the Women in Business association of her early years as a law student in the male-dominated environment at Queen's University.
Hailing the emergence of women, not only in law but right across the range of employment since her student days, she again looked to the future.
"There is still some heavy lifting to be done," she said.
"But there is now a momentum which will shortly see legions of successful women serving both as the engine of our economy, and as role models to young female entrepreneurs, when the once-overlooked genius of women shows its daring, its creativity, its innovation and its courage in a swathe of new businesses that will bring pride and prosperity to a re-imagined island of Ireland."