We had just taken down the Christmas tree and packed the decorations awayfor another year when I glanced at my Facebook and Twittr accounts.
I quickly realised that something very strange was happening in the United States.
'Quick, turn on CNN' I said to Joe.
For the next three hours we sat transfixed, horrified at the anarchy on our screen and at a President inciting terror against his own country.
Like the rest of Ireland, we also noticed the accent of CNN reporter Donie O'Sullivan who has now become
something of a national hero.