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Protest held at leaders' meeting Ahern visit is new dawn - Paisley
(39 minutes 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. Ian Paisley has described Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's historic visit to his constituency of Ballymena as a "good day for Ireland".
Town councillor Roy Gillespie, a former DUP member, unfurled a Union flag outside the meeting at Galgorm Resort and Spa. The first minister was speaking as he and Mr Ahern toured the Galgorm Resort Hotel and Spa where they discussed how to promote tourism in Ireland.
His wife, Ruby, was asked to leave the meeting after confronting Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen. "It is a good day for the whole of Ireland because we need help from outside," Mr Paisley said.
Mr Gillespie left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein. Mr Ahern said he was honoured to have visited Mr Paisley's heartland.
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."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.""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. Both men said it was important that the two parts of the island worked together for their mutual economic benefit.
A reference to his protest at Stormont when a previous Taoiseach Sean Lemass visited there. "Guaranteeing investment and employment is a goal and objective we share and I do not think there is any sector of an economy that cannot grow and gain added value through cooperation," Mr Ahern said.
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. Protest
"It is a good day for our province. It is a good day for the whole of Ireland because we need help from outside." Earlier, a small number of people held a protest during the tour.
Town councillor Roy Gillespie, a former DUP member, unfurled a Union flag outside, while his wife, Ruby, was asked to leave the meeting after confronting Mr Paisley's wife, Eileen.
Mr Gillespie left the DUP over its decision to share power with Sinn Fein.
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.