At around the same time last Wednesday that the IRA was adding its piece to the Mitchell review jigsaw, more than 2,000 students from universities across Ireland marched on Belfast's City Hall to stake their claim for better treatment and demand an end to student poverty.
The demonstrators carried placards and shouted slogans calling for the abolition of annual fees and the return of maintenance grants and social security benefits for all in higher education.
Plans for demonstrators to arrive in conga formation failed, though apparently Queen's students tried harder ("they're just better movers," is how one organiser put it); after marching conventionally from the University of Ulster and Queen's campuses in Belfast, the students were addressed by speakers calling for education legislation specific to the needs of Northern Ireland.
The British-based National Union of Students president Andrew Pakes told the crowd they had the full support of students across the UK.
As reported in last week's Campus Times, the NUS has a softer line in Britain on these issues than that taken in Northern Ireland; Pakes's comments reflected that.
"Today's demonstration is not about tuition fees, it is not about the return of maintenance grants. Today's demonstration is about human rights, the individual right to a free education."
Sinn Fein, UUP, SDLP and DUP assembly members took time out from what were more pressing matters and were on hand to display their support for a system of free education.
Speaking before the protesters marched from Queen's, Belfast Lord Mayor Bob Stoker also pledged his sympathy for the students' cause.
"I give my full support to the students. I'm well aware of what they have to put up with.
"We have to realise that our youth represent our greatest natural resource. They are the future of Northern Ireland and should be encouraged into further education."
University of Ulster students' union overall president Geraldine Dolan was pleased with the amount of support the rally received. She said the campaign will continue until student demands for improved financial aid are met.
"Our students across the four campuses are being crippled by hardship and debt. The British government must invest in student support - it must subsidise rather than penalise. This demonstration is the beginning of a rolling campaign which will continue until our demands are met.
"It sent out a clear message to the government, of the severe dissatisfaction of students across Northern Ireland."
Shane Whelehan, NUS-USI Northern area convener, was more critical of Tony Blair's government. "In opposition the Labour Party promised to end student poverty, yet its policies on tuition fees have increased hardship and deterred mature students and lone parents from entering higher education.
"Free education is a fallacy which has not been true for a number of years - the latest legislation is just continuing the trend of discrimination against students. Every single person here has a role to play in changing this and we have to get it done this year," Whelehan said. "If we don't do it now, we never will."
