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It’s cold out there. Lower temperatures. Biting wind. Grey sky. And yet, it seems, Belfast city centre is bunged with different groups parading at different times. Perhaps there are lessons to be learn by the commitment – and number – of such hardy souls.
If you were hoping to be part of the Ulster-Scots Agency march from Gordon Street to City Hall, better get your skates on. Campbell College Pipe Band, Mass Pipe Band, Major Sinclair Pipe Band and the NEI Drum Major Group will lead the parade, which organisers say will involve 300 people.
A second parade, to mark the opening of Durham Street and Boyne Bridge Place, asembled at Sandy Row Orange Hall at 12.30pm. They expect there’ll be around 80 people at this one, and if you run like a demented dog, you might catch the tail-end of the group – they’re going home for their tea or whatever at 2:00 pm.
You’ve missed the start of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally. It marched at 12.30 pm from Writer’s Square to City Hall. The rally there is expected to last until 3:00 pm.
I’m going to make a wild guess and say that the first two sets of marchers – those celebrating Ulster-Scots and those rejoicing in the opening of Boyne Bridge Place – figure these events matter more than expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Which is sort of sad. But the cheer-up thing is that those who are concerned are expected to constitute five times as many marchers as the other gigs. There’s hope for us yet.
Very good Jude