Love Ulster marches - We should march and move on

REFRESHING signs of Ireland’s changing political climate will be seen on the streets of both the Republic and the North this summer.

On the main street of Dublin, the second Love Ulster march will turn out to be bigger and, hopefully, better than last year’s debacle, which descended into riotous mayhem in the capital.

At the same time, there are welcome signs that relations between the Orange Order and nationalist objectors are thawing over the explosive question of marching down the Garvaghy Road.

Up to now, local people have been strongly opposed to the idea of a gung-ho Drumcree parade going through the predominantly nationalist area of Portadown.

Few could have forecast that hardline loyalists would be prepared to drop their ban on direct talks with local residents. In an area noted as a flash point, this illustrates the gradual healing of bitter divisions between the two communities.

While as yet the gardaí have given no firm decision, they are not opposed in principle to the idea of a lawful and peaceful march in Dublin this August.

This is an ideal opportunity to show the Republic is truly a multicultural society. It would be disastrous for Ireland’s image abroad if thugs and criminal elements, running under the umbrella of republicanism, were allowed to hijack a march intended to illustrate the growing solidarity and friendship between the Irish people, North and South.

Of course, it will require a far higher degree of planning and co-ordination from the gardaí than was seen last year, when the parade was aborted in an orgy of anarchy and violence. Regrettably, about 1,000 unionists were forced to abandon their march on the streets of Dublin.

Facing down the naysayers, the group behind the march, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), aim to bring 3,000 people and 25 bands, including outfits from the Orange Order, to the capital this summer.

Arguably, the time is right for the Republic to extend the hand of friendship once again. If the march goes ahead, there should be no question of allowing hardline elements of Republican Sinn Féin to hijack the streets of Dublin for their own warped ends.

If Ireland is a mature, inclusive, and multicultural society then, as the parade organiser Willie Frazer put it, this is the time to prove it.