Kenny was there to show his support for the industry and the Education in Ireland mission; Ireland has underlined its ambitions to boost its international student numbers and also unveiled a Student Ambassador programme this week.

Carolyn Blackmore, Chief Executive of Quality English – a network of high quality English language schools worldwide – told The PIE, “We were told he was coming and almost didn’t believe it (would David Cameron come to Study World?)”.

She continued, “Meetings stopped immediately as everyone at the workshop crowded round to hear him speak about the fantastic job the Irish schools are doing for the economy. Afterwards, there was a scrum of agents trying to get their photo taken with the Taoiseach – he was treated like a pop idol and didn’t seem to mind as they crowded round. He was generous with his time and made every person feel important.”

Kenny welcomed the agents (there were over 60) to Carton House, where the MEI workshop was taking place. Located 23 kilometres west of Dublin, Carton House was one of Ireland’s greatest stately homes and one time ancestral seat of the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster.