Dublin  - On Bertie Ahern's last day as Irish prime minister, he and Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley were due to open the site of a historical 17th century battle in the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, Ahern's office said in a statement.

The Battle of the Boyne near Drogheda in 1690 marked a decisive victory for the forces of the Protestant claimant for the English throne, William III, over the Catholic James II of England and Ireland, who was also James VII of Scotland.

The victory is celebrated by Northern Irish Protestants, like Paisley, who wish to maintain ties with London, while it has largely been ignored by Irish nationalists, like Ahern, who tend to be Catholic and seek Irish reunification.

The facilities at the site include "a visitor centre ... with exhibitions depicting the battle; audio-visual facilities; restoration of the walled gardens and a tearoom and full-scale replica 17th century artillery and military equipment in an outdoor setting," the statement said.

Ahern and Paisley were expected to open the site with original 17th century swords, Ahern's office said.

Ahern first welcomed Paisley to the Boyne site one year ago when he became the first minister of a power-sharing Belfast executive that ended decades of bitter sectarian strife in the North.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to be Ahern's final official task as prime minister.

He was due to hand in his resignation to President Mary McAleese Tuesday evening after he stepped down amid questions about his personal finances. Finance Minister Brian Cowen replaces him.

Paisley is also due to leave office next month to be replaced by his former party deputy Peter Robinson. (dpa)