Bush visit seen as cynical PR stunt

THERE were no ‘Yankee Go Home’ signs on display in Belfast last night, but the welcome was far from warm for US President George W Bush as he touched down for his first visit to Ireland.

Unlike his predecessor Bill Clinton, Mr Bush has shown little interest in Northern Ireland, and his surprise arrival and intervention in the peace process was largely viewed largely with cynicism.

His visit may have put Northern Ireland dead centre in the eyes of the world, but it seemed the locals deemed it more of an inconvenience than anything else.