Beating the retreat, as both sides retire

BERTIE AHERN’S final battlefield as taoiseach was one symbolising hope born from war as this soldier of political destiny bowed out still undefeated in electoral combat.

As the first musket volley roared out across the battle of the Boyne site, Eileen Paisley jumped back in shock at the violence of the noise — on either side of her Mr Ahern and Ian Paisley stood solid, they had both faced much greater turmoil than this.

The re-enactment of the pivotal 1690 engagement was a fitting last moment in the limelight for two leaders who are both withdrawing early and wounded from the field of political battle.