Dublin, September 10, SPA -- Irish President Mary McAleese and Northern IrishFirst Minister Ian Paisley on Monday evening appeared together forthe first time since Paisley took office in May, according to DPA. McAleese and Paisley attended an exhibition commemorating theFirst World War Battle of the Somme in the Northern Irish town ofNewtownards, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported. The Irish president said it was an "honour" to open the exhibitioncommemorating the Battles of Guillemont and Ginchy, part of theBattle of the Somme. Referring to the Battle of the Somme and Dublin's Easter Rising byIrish nationalists, both of which took place in 1916, McAleese saidthat the exhibition would provide "a place to stand together inshared respect and a place to help us grow in understanding ofthose difficult times." McAleese congratulated Paisley and his colleagues "on thetremendous start you have made on your journey of partnership towardsa new society in Northern Ireland and a new mood of goodneighbourliness across this island." "There could be no better monument to the brave men of Guillemontand Ginchy," she added. A joint administration between British Unionists led by Paisleyand Irish Nationalists took office in May.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/481726