It was "an excellent meeting" but neither man shook the other's hand. Differing perspectives on the same engagement yesterday afternoon between the Taoiseach and the Rev Ian Paisley in Government Buildings.
There was none of the drama of previous encounters between the Northern politician and holders of the office of Taoiseach. In the 1960s `Big Ian' threw snowballs at Sean Lemass. A decade later he heckled Jack Lynch in the European Parliament chamber.
However, yesterday the attitude adopted was more low-key. Dr Paisley arrived early to avoid the waiting media, much to the surprise of the Taoiseach who was still in his office in the middle of a telephone call.
After their hour-long meeting, Dr Paisley chose to forgo a photo-opportunity with Mr Ahern on the steps of Government Buildings, only uttering his first public words on southern soil a short while later outside the British embassy in Ballsbridge.
In requesting the meeting Dr Paisley had stressed he was not coming to Dublin to discuss the current political situation in the North. There would be no discussion in his capacity as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. Rather this was to be a religious visit.
And so it was, with the two men discussing a series of recent attacks on Free Presbyterian churches in Co Monaghan including Coragarry Church which was destroyed in a fire attack last July.
Twenty-five years ago Dr Paisley laid the foundation stone at Coragarry. On several occasions he preached at services in the church which is situated about six miles from the Border.
Dr Paisley said the Taoiseach expressed his "great concern about the issue" and offered reassurances that steps would be taken to ensure such attacks would not happen again.
A Government spokesman said the Taoiseach had accepted that there "could be sectarian undertones" to the recent attacks. Mr Ahern had already asked local gardai to increase their vigilance at Protestant churches in the Border area.
At their meeting the Taoiseach raised the issue of attacks on the nationalist communities in Larne and Carrickfergus.
A little bit of history remained after the meeting as Dr Paisley signed the official visitors' book in Government Buildings in his capacity as Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church. The two leaders had a cup of tea during their hour-long meeting but did not exchange the normal pleasantries.
"We didn't shake hands. He understands that my position is that I will not shake hands with a prime minister of a country which still has a claim over my country," Dr Paisley said.