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Paisley and Ahern in Antrim visit Protest held at leaders' meeting
(about 5 hours later)
Ian Paisley and Bertie Ahern are expected to jointly open a new resort and spa in County Antrim later. A small number of people have held a protest during a meeting between the First Minister Ian Paisley and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Ballymena.
The first minister and taoiseach will be united in a bid to bolster tourism, as they launch the new facilit. Town councillor Roy Gillespie, a former DUP member, unfurled a Union flag outside the meeting at Galgorm Resort and Spa.
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern made an official visit to the town last year. His wife, Ruby, was asked to leave the meeting after confronting Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said they would discuss important matters during the meeting. Mr Gillespie left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein.
"Mr Ahern and Mr Paisley are expected to discuss political and economic developments in Northern Ireland and increasing cross-border co-operation with the Republic," he said. Earlier Mr Ahern was warmly welcomed to the resort and spa by Mr Paisley.
The taoiseach said he was honoured to visit the north Antrim heartland of the DUP leader.
"I do not believe even a year back it could have been envisaged we would have been together here," Mr Ahern said.
"It is an honour to be here with the first minister to talk about progress."
Mr Paisley joked that Mr Ahern and his entourage had held a prayer meeting in their helicopter hoping that they would not be pelted with snowballs by him.
A reference to his protest at Stormont when a previous Taoiseach Sean Lemass visited there.
When asked about welcoming the Fianna Fail leader to his constituency he said: "What I am saying is he is in under my control. This is a good day for work.
"It is a good day for our province. It is a good day for the whole of Ireland because we need help from outside."
Last year, Mr Paisley and Mr Ahern visited the site of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne in County Meath.Last year, Mr Paisley and Mr Ahern visited the site of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne in County Meath.
Mr Ahern and Mr Paisley agreed to the visit after talks in Dublin between the two men.Mr Ahern and Mr Paisley agreed to the visit after talks in Dublin between the two men.
Mr Paisley said it showed "how far we have come when we can celebrate and learn from the past".