The Prince of Wales appeared to be the most surprised of all to be greeted by a round of applause from 250 onlookers when he emerged from St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore yesterday afternoon, following Sunday service.
"Oh, you are still here," Prince Charles exclaimed, telling some of the locals they should be at home having Sunday lunch instead of waiting in the cold to see him.
The impromptu but brief walkabout yesterday afternoon followed the low-key and informal pattern of the prince's private visit to Lismore Castle in west Co Waterford, the Irish home of the Duke of Devonshire.
However, the huge security operation, involving up to 200 gardaí over the last week, including armed members of the Emergency Response Unit, the air unit and the sub-aqua unit, belied any suggestion this was just another English nature enthusiast visiting the west Waterford area.
The prince, along with his partner, Ms Camilla Parker Bowles, arrived at the castle on Friday evening to celebrate the 60th birthday of Lord Hartington, the heir to the duke, who is a relative and close friend of the prince.
On Saturday evening, Lord Hartington hosted a drinks reception for 230 locals and friends at the castle, before a private dinner for 10 friends and family, including the Prince of Wales and Ms Parker Bowles.
Other dinner guests including Lord Hartington's mother, the Duchess of Devonshire, his daughter, Lady Jasmine, her husband, Mr Nick Dunne, and Lord Hartington's son, William, whose title is Lord Burlington.
The prince mingled with guests at the reception for an hour and was, according to locals, engaging and friendly.
"He was very approachable and very pleasant to meet," said to Mr Joe Willoughby, owner of the neighbouring Ballyrafter House hotel, who was at the reception. "He moved around the room with ease, and he greeted everybody, and he said he would like to come back here again."
Outside the castle on Saturday evening, a small group of locals had gathered, including a lone protester from Republican Sinn Féin with a placard telling the prince he was unwelcome because of his titular position as head of the British army's Parachute Regiment, which was involved in Bloody Sunday in Derry.
Yesterday morning, the strong security presence was again in force at St Carthage's Cathedral, 500 yards from the castle, where the royal party and the Devonshire family were due to attend service at 11.30 a.m. From an hour before the service, the bells of the cathedral rung out, playing religious music pieces and Irish airs, including Down By The Sally Gardens.
During the 90-minute service, the Very Revd Dean William Beare said a prayer, St Patrick's Breastplate, in Irish to mark the saint's recent feast day.
The prince joined with the 150-strong congregation in singing hymns, accompanied by organist Mr Jan Van Putten.
The congregation was also addressed by Mr Denis Ring, principal of the newly-opened Blackwater Community school in the village, as part of Education Sunday.
Mr Ring outlined the ethos of the school and various education innovations under way there. He also treated the prince to an impromptu history lesson, telling him that Queen Elizabeth 1 had coined the term "blarney" to describe the McCarthy chiefs of East Cork and their propensity to talk.
The prince and Mrs Parker Bowles are due to leave from Cork Airport this morning.