BATTLE OF BOYNE: PAISLEY SPEECH:THE NORTH'S First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, said yesterday that everyone on the island of Ireland had a responsibility to ensure that the current peace was maintained and sustained.
Dr Paisley, who formally opened the visitors' centre at the Battle of the Boyne site with outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, said he wanted the best for the people "of every part of Ireland".
Dr Paisley, who will be standing down as First Minister and DUP leader at the end of the month, chose the word "Boyne" as an acrostic when referring to the history of the battle site and speaking of his hopes for the future.
He said B stood for the Boyne itself, the O stood for Orange input to the battle and the making of world history while the Y stood for "you and I".
Focusing on the Y he added: "Each one of us has a solemn responsibility. Our responsibility is to make and to sustain the peace. Of course we have different views. I am a unionist. I don't need to wear it on a large notice over my heart. The Taoiseach is a nationalist, and he doesn't need to display it on a sign.
"We both believe, however, that we should live in peace on this island in which we find ourselves by the over-ruling providence of Almighty God. We both intend that there shall be peace. With mutual respect for one another we want to see that principle triumph all over this island.
"Of course, you are free to try to convert me to your way, and I am free to try to convert you to my way. But that is by way of argument and not arms."
Dr Paisley then presented Mr Ahern with a copy of the King James Bible, printed 77 years after the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.
He joked that in retirement they could study it together.
Dr Paisley said the N was for no turning back to the bad old days.
"The killing times must end for ever, and no tolerance must be given to those who advocate their return.
"A strong dedication to peace and an intolerance of murder must drive us forward.
"This must be the end of all atrocities and the building of the ways of peace. The coming generation has a right to demand this from us. We must not fail them."
The E was for evermore: "We are all headed to the Evermore."
Speaking later to guests, Dr Paisley said they were "celebrating something that goes down into the core of all our hearts, because somewhere in the nationalist heart and somewhere in the unionist heart there is the same thing, and that is a love of this island that we jointly hold together".
Dr Paisley concluded: "So let us all resolve that, come what may, we will be with all those - politicians and others - who are dedicated to seeing that peace reigns in both parts of our island home, and that together we can share this island home, and be an example to the whole world."
