Throughout their long association down the years, it must have generally cost him more thought and effort to remember not to greet him with this automatic and commonplace gesture.

Finally, yesterday, he was able to abandon the old bullish refusal and simply extend the natural hand of courtesy.

Behind that handshake was a lifetime of miscommunication, misunderstanding, belligerence and fear. It exchanged apologies, sought forgiveness and a fresh start all round.

Bertie’s arm nearly came out of its socket, but that was a small price to pay for such a symbolic moment.

The Taoiseach gave the distinct impression that that was what he thought himself as he smiled broadly for the cameras. Another mention in the history books and, more crucially, surely worth a few votes.

The staff of Farmleigh must have been giving the Child of Prague an airing to ensure fine weather for such an auspicious encounter. With the daffodils waving their merry heads, the birds singing and even a small herd of donkeys peacefully grazing in a field close by, there wasn’t a heart in the world that wouldn’t have melted at this blissfully pastoral scene.

The Taoiseach, Dermot Ahern and the next Irish ambassador to Washington, Michael Collins, were first to arrive and they stood at the front door to await their guests. Then, about 10 minutes later, a silver car drove up the long drive, with Ian Paisley and son in the back seat.

Dislodging himself carefully, the Big Man stood for a moment and answered a greeting from a member of the press with a cheery “Good morning.” A faint shake in his stooped figure was barely discernible – this mighty political force will be 81 tomorrow.

“I have to shake hands with this man - give him a grip,” he declared, making his way over to Bertie, who was smiling and trying his best not to squint in the strong sunshine.

In 1999, Paisley said he would not shake hands with “the prime minister of a country that still claims jurisdiction over my country”.

More recently, he had altered this wording somewhat, saying they wouldn’t shake hands until there was a political agreement on Northern Ireland.

With that in place came the mother of all handshakes yesterday, as he crushed the Taoiseach’s hand with the depth of his heartiness and sincerity.

Next Bertie shook Ian Paisley junior’s hand and then it was inside for their little chat, which was to have been an hour long but last some 90 minutes.

Both parties looked satisfied afterwards. Bertie spoke first. It had been a “businesslike and friendly discussion on a range of matters of mutual interest.”

We have to do our best to put behind us the terrible wounds of our past and work together, he said.

“I fervently believe that we move on from here in a new spirit of friendship. The future of this island has never been brighter.”

Most surprising of all was Paisley’s newly acknowledged status as an Irishman. He revealed that he was proud of his Irish roots, he told us. His father’s birth cert had been lodged here. He had gone on to fight on Carson’s side for the Union. He said he would put “Ulsterman” before “Irishman” in his Constitution.

Clearly feeling magnanimous, he finished up by thanking a surprised Taoiseach for his hospitality in this “great city of Dublin”. There seemed to be a lifetime of hard lessons learned on both sides. In Paisley’s own words: “Some say hedges make the best neighbours. That is not the case.” And he added that he did not believe we should plant a hedge between two countries.

We now await “The Handshake” - Dr Paisley and Gerry Adams. That’ll be the one to watch.