Mr Peter Mandelson acknowledged yesterday that the word was too often used, and that he had thought hard about using it yesterday, but he would anyway. "This is an historic day," he said.
It was the day of the first meeting of a power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland, but the events in the Republic were every bit as momentous.
Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution were replaced, redefining Irishness and Irish nationalism; all-Ireland political institutions were established for the first time since partition; a new British-Irish Council came into being.
Amid all the history-making, the fact that the Minister for Foreign Affairs flew to London to join the President for lunch with Queen Elizabeth appeared almost unremarkable.
By 9 a.m. yesterday, civil, religious and political leaders as well as a large turnout from the diplomatic corps had packed the opulent Iveagh House ballroom to witness the first of a series of signings and meetings which brought the new British-Irish Agreement into force and established the new North-South and British-Irish institutions.
Outside, dark limousines waited in a long line along St Ste hen's Green. The brightly lit ballroom, with its onyx and marble-lined walls and the impeccably dressed dignitaries, seemed far removed from the conflict, death, and misery that preceded yesterday's historic changes.
But Mr Andrews reminded the invited audience of why they were there, opening his address with a sombre acknowledgment of the suffering that has gone before.
Before we celebrate the significance of the day, he said, "let us remember all those thousands who died. Let us remember those who still suffer pain and loss. For them, and for all the people, we should rededicate ourselves to the twin causes of peace and partnership, so that our island and our islands need never again be riven by conflict and divided in bitterness."
The Iveagh House ceremony over, history-making moved to Government Buildings. The Cabinet met for 10 minutes and agreed to make the formal declaration replacing Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. The 62-year-old Articles, containing the territorial claim to Northern Ireland long opposed by unionists and cherished by nationalists, were gone.
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance signed the orders bringing into force legislation allowing the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council and the North-South implementation bodies.
At all venues, speakers reached into history to emphasise the significance of the day. Mr Andrews listed successive taoisigh since Eamon de Valera who had tried "to reach agreement and to promote partnership and reconciliation".
In Government Buildings, the Taoiseach spoke of failed elements of the 1920-21 settlement being superseded "by a new dispensation, a new, balanced constitutional settlement".
In the Dail, the Fine Gael deputy leader, Ms Nora Owen, remarked on the fact that "this agreement has come into force without the bloodshed, civil war and fighting which my granduncle, Michael Collins, faced when he came back from Downing Street in 1921".
While recalling the past, yesterday's ceremonies also pointed to the future. A multi-racial group of children had pride of place in the packed ballroom because, as Mr Andrews said, they "represent the diverse traditions and experiences which make up modern Ireland".
After signing their respective documents, Mr Andrews and Mr Mandelson spent several minutes chatting to the group, which included Muslim and Jewish children, urban and rural, from both Dublin's inner city and affluent southern suburbs. The seven schools from which they were chosen represented different religions, cultures and social classes - although three were from Mr Andrews's Dail constituency.
Surrounded by his ministers, talking of his hopes for the future, Mr Ahern also struck a sombre note about the past.
"In our joy and pride today, we must not, however, forget the many people who have suffered so tragically from the conflict of the past, particularly over the past 30 years. The Good Friday agreement rightly stated that the achievement of a peaceful and just society would be the true memorial to the victims of violence."