He flew out of Shannon airport in southwest Ireland at 9.55 pm after playing a round of golf at Ireland's famous Ballybunion course and made one last walk-about to meet local people before leaving for the airport.

Earlier he was given a rousing send-off as he ended his formal engagements with a pep talk on peace and prosperity to an adoring crowd in Limerick, 150 km southwest of Dublin.

``We have witnessed a sea change in the lives of the Irish people. The demons of the past are losing their power to divide you,'' Clinton told the well-wishers, some of whom had begun gathering at dawn.

``And a new and better and more prosperous history is unfolding before you,'' Clinton said as the sun broke through the rain clouds that had soaked the packed streets of the picturesquetown.

Enthusiasm ran high here for the US President, whose visit boosted tourism and national pride, and for his wife Hillary, who got a superstar's welcome everywhere she went.

Clinton was made a freeman of Limerick, the third largest city in Ireland, by colourful mayor Joe Harrington, a gardener who is more used to spending his Saturdays selling plants in the local market. Clinton became the 57th freeman of city, joining a roll call that includes the late US President John F Kennedy.

Harrington, 50, greeted Clinton with his world record handshake. The mayor shook 8,710 hands on March 17, St Patrick's Day, to beat former US President Theodore Roosevelt's record that had stood for 91 years. An outspoken critic of aspects of US foreign policy, particularly the recent missile attacks on alleged terrorist targets in Sudan and Afghanistan, the mayor largely kept his views to himself when he represented the city to bestow its highest honour.

It was a triumphant tour of Northern Ireland and the IrishRepublic for Clinton, who urged leaders in Belfast Thursday to seize their unique opportunity for peace. Twice Clinton had to interrupt his messages of economic reform in Russia and peace and reconciliation in Ireland to answer humiliating questions about his affair with Lewinsky, an ex-White House intern. Many here in Limerick expressed disgust with the media frenzy over Clinton's personal life and dismay that it has distracted attention from their big day.

But back in Washington, White House aides were in crisis mode over a surprise attack from Clinton's own party which had pundits predicting the President will be forced to resign to avoid impeachment charges. Clinton himself sought to rescue the situation Friday by uttering the key words ``I'm sorry'' for the first time.