The loyalist marching season today got off to one of its quietest and most peaceful starts for years. An often controversial parade by members of the Apprentice Boys in North Belfast passed off without incident.
A small number of nationalist protesters, including elected members of Sinn Fein, mounted a demonstration at the Ardoyne Shops on the Crumlin Road and heckled marchers as they made their way to join the main parade.
Police stood between the rival factions but did not need to intervene. In the south of the city, another group of Apprentice Boys were prevented from marching across the Ormeau Bridge into the mainly nationalist end of the Ormeau Road. Crash barriers were put up by police to enforce a Parades Commission ruling that it did not follow its traditional route.
But there was no trouble and the marchers, accompanied by a band, turned down a side street and boarded a waiting bus to go to the main parade. The Apprentice Boys kicked off the marching season with parades in Belfast, Derry and Castlederg.
Meanwhile, republicans rounded off their traditional Easter Rising commemorations with a second day of parades at a series of venues across the province, including Belfast and Armagh and Downpatrick and Newry, Co Down.