On this day in 1994, a meeting between two international statesmen in Ireland had to be cancelled - because one of them overslept. Russian President Boris Yeltsin (pictured right) had agreed to break a flight from the United States to Moscow in County Limerick for a reception with the Irish prime minister. But instead there was a minor diplomatic incident when the Russian leader failed to appear.
Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Ireland's leader, had to be content with meeting the Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets, who reported the president was asleep.
The taoiseach, his wife, two ministers, a group of Irish MPs, an Irish guard of honour, a military band and delegation from the Russian embassy were all waiting on the tarmac to greet Mr Yeltsin. They stood while his plane inexplicably circled Shannon airport for an hour, and for another 15 minutes after it landed, before they were told the president was too tired, and then too ill, to see them.
Mr Reynolds - who had to cancel a lavish reception at the nearby Dromoland Castle - denied he had been snubbed. Whilst accepting Mr Yeltsin was ill, Mr Reynolds was frustrated that the president could not attend a news conference about the peace process.
And it was rumoured the vodka-loving leader had over-indulged his taste for the drink on the journey from Washington.
Mr Yeltsin's health seriously declined after suffering a heart attack in 1996 and he resigned in 1999.
