A succession of peaceful Orange Order parades has set the tone for what will hopefully turn out to be a quiet, dignified and family-friendly Twelfth of July today in Northern Ireland.
The importance of a peaceful marching season cannot be underestimated in a society that is only now beginning to put the divisions and the bloodshed of the past behind it. In that regard, the existence of a successful powersharing Executive is providing the necessary confidence and stability to break with old, confrontational attitudes.
There will, inevitably, be inter-communal tensions in the short term. But the benefits of co-operation and accommodation are so obvious that only the most intransigent would wish a return to the divisive triumphalism of the past. The transfer of political power to an Executive dominated by the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin earlier this year has led to a sea change in public attitudes that is being reflected by an increase in economic activity and job creation. The most obvious manifestation has been a rise in the number of visiting tourists.
These positive developments have not just happened. They are the result of a great deal of hard work and the involvement of behind-the-scenes mediators who brokered local deals that provided space for both communities. They also attracted unambiguous political support. Contentious marches took place on negotiated conditions that minimised the chances of local upset and communal confrontation. And, last Sunday, the district master of Portadown Orange Lodge Darryl Hewitt committed his organisation to future face-to-face talks with residents of the Garvaghy Road in order to surmount difficulties involving the Drumcree parade.
Up to now, it has been impossible to answer the questions: "Why not let them march?" and "Why do they want to march?" to the satisfaction of both communities. But, with Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness leading a power-sharing government based on collective responsibility, those questions are losing their disruptive relevance. The marching circle is being squared through concessions from both sides in the interests of peace and harmony.
These developments have a resonance that is beginning to permeate society. Up to last year, politics was put on hold for the summer months in Northern Ireland because of communal tensions generated by the marching season. The cost of policing was enormous. Lost inward investment was unquantifiable. And the brain drain of bright young graduates became further entrenched. Now there is hope. And economic prospects are improving.
But reform will be required to address the imbalance that exists between the public and private sectors. Those structural difficulties will be resolved most speedily if people pull together. Sorting out divisive parades and transforming the Twelfth into a trouble-free, carnival-style occasion would set a useful example of the kind of co-operation that can be achieved.