NORTHERN REACTION:The streets of Belfast have rarely been so empty – traffic was next to non-existent and parking plentiful, writes DAN KEENAN,Northern News Editor
STREET CELEBRATIONS and house parties across Northern Ireland marked the royal wedding of Prince William, the newly entitled Baron Carrickfergus, and Kate Middleton.
In the Co Antrim town which has given its name to the latest of the prince’s titles there was quiet satisfaction and new hope that the happy couple would visit one day.
After the nuptials in which the prince appeared in the bright red dress uniform of the Irish Guards mayor Jim McClurg said: “It’s an extreme thrill for the people of Carrickfergus to have this honour bestowed on them. It’s taken us completely by surprise. We certainly hope this means we can expect a special royal visitor in the near future.”
The Barony of Carickfergus, revived from the 18th century, holds one of the finest castles in Ireland and was the reputed landing spot for the original King William in Ireland.
Belfast was as at its quietest as people retreated indoors for the wedding ceremony.
Bathed in warm bank holiday sunshine the streets of republican and unionist communities have rarely been so empty.
Traffic was next to non-existent and it was easy to find a parking spot right outside Sinn Féin headquarters.
The gates and traffic barriers along the peacelines with the loyalist Shankill area lay open and the police were not to be seen as people casually came and went.
The Shankill Road fluttered with union flags, red, white and blue bunting and toothy images of the newly-weds beamed from windows everywhere.
The weather suggested the beginning of the Twelfth celebrations and one or two street parties off the main thoroughfare started early. But the scenes were less boozy and more relaxed than mid-July.
This was much the same in largely loyalist east Belfast. Communities along the Cregagh, Castlereagh and Newtownards roads abandoned the glorious morning to follow the television coverage along with billions of others worldwide.
Along other interface areas, local communities tried to turn the event into an opportunity for progress.
Community workers at the Suffolk-Lenadoon Interface Group (Slig), building on the success of a cross-community celebration of St Patrick’s Day organised a get-together and a football tournament involving teams from Suffolk FC and St Oliver Plunkett’s.
Belfast, unlike other main cities across the UK, however did not have the royal wedding shown on a public TV screen.
A large 25sq m screen already stands in the grounds of City Hall and will show sporting and music events up to and including the London Olympic Games next summer.
According to the BBC the screen was not ready for showing anything let alone the royal wedding and preparations won’t be completed until the middle of May.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister dismissed the BBC statement saying: “The extremely lame excuse that the screen isn’t ready simply won’t wash. It’s not as if His Royal Highness Prince William and Ms Middleton announced that they were going to get married a few days ago.”