The first major loyalist parade of the marching season has passed off without major incident in Belfast last night.
The Tour of the North parade, which has witnessed serious violence in recent years, completed its route through central and north Belfast last night, including a section at Ardoyne.
Bandsmen during last night's parade in Belfast
Serious violence broke out at the Ardoyne sectarian interface in 2005, setting the tone for the rest of the summer on the streets of the North.
The Irish Timeswas told last night that a series of contacts between representatives of both nationalist residents and loyalist marchers had taken place, paving the way for a level of understanding about the conduct of the parade in contested areas.
One reliable source said the parade was marshalled by members of the unionist community while nationalist residents oversaw the Ardoyne flashpoint where a small protest was mounted at an agreed location.