The Ireland's Future conference in Dublin delivered all of the pomp you would expect from its biggest gathering to date.
Packing out the 3Arena with thousands of people and bringing together many senior politicians and celebrities is a big undertaking and a statement of intent.
A venue more used to music concerts and famous for debuting Riverdance at Eurovision became for one afternoon the epicentre of discussions on a united Ireland.
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While those attending and participating had differing nuances on the way forward, the 'Together We Can' strapline will be seen as a rallying cry for Irish unity.
With unionist parties and Alliance staying away, critics will see this conference as a real-life Twitter echo chamber - nationalists simply talking to other nationalists.
But the event did attempt to include some voices from unionist backgrounds, most notably actor James Nesbitt, who delivered the closing speech of the day.
Undecided on the constitutional question, he expressed interest in discussing a "union of Ireland" that is progressive, inclusive and diverse.
Parties not known for placing Irish unity as their top priority also joined in the line-up across a series of panel discussions.
An element of this will be some looking over their shoulder at the rise of Sinn Fein, keen to avoid being outflanked on their nationalist credentials.
Indeed, Ireland's Future as a campaign group is seen as close to the thinking of Sinn Fein given some of those behind the scenes. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was the only political leader to receive a standing ovation from some in the audience.
Regardless, it is clear the main driving force spurring many to share a stage is Brexit.
The ongoing fall-out over the UK leaving the European Union, leaving Stormont lurching from crisis to crisis, has prompted some to rethink what is best for Northern Ireland.
Changing demographics, as evidenced in the recent Census results, have also given new weight to the prospect of a border poll on Irish unity.
The Ireland's Future conference is a concerted effort to advance and shine a spotlight on these conversations.
But the challenge for nationalism remains to move beyond simply talking and flesh out what a future united Ireland would look like in more practical terms.
Healthcare, education, infrastructure as well as identity issues such as the national anthem and flag all remain open to further debate. Ireland's Future has developed a 67-page document for these discussions.
There is general agreement among nationalists that a border poll must be more orderly than the 2016 Brexit referendum and the turmoil that followed.
Mr Nesbitt said a border poll "may well be inevitable", but he added: "If it's going to happen let it happen after an informed debate and not just when the numbers are right. This is my key point."
More planning is needed if nationalism ever hopes to convince unionism and a growing middle-ground that uniting Ireland would better serve their needs.
The conference is part of a number of initiatives seeking to examine Irish unity. Sinn Fein is holding a "Peoples' Assembly" in Belfast's Waterfront Hall, while SDLP has its civic forum the New Ireland Commission.
Within unionism meanwhile, former DUP leader Arlene Foster is to launch in London next month her pro-Union project, the Together UK Foundation.
She has said it aims to "highlight the benefits that the Union brings to us all" to counter arguments from Irish nationalists as well as SNP calls for a second Scottish independence referendum.
A border poll still seems a long way off. Support for nationalist parties has not changed significantly in the almost quarter-century since the Good Friday Agreement.
But whether it is Northern Ireland or Scotland, it is clear that questions over the constitutional future of the United Kingdom are not going away.
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