Children sang pop songs to drown out the jeers from the dwindling bunch of protestors at Holy Cross primary school yesterday.
"I want to go up the other way," said a schoolgirl walking in the rain on Ardoyne Road. She wore a navy anorak and red ribbons in her hair. "You're going this way," replied her mother, as they headed towards the army barricade at Alliance Avenue, where, in contrast to the day before, the walk to Holy Cross was peaceful, if tense.
The weather appeared to have dampened the spirits of the protestors, who say they come here to protest against sectarian attacks on Protestant communities. No more than 50 lined the street yesterday, backs turned, blowing whistles until the children and parents had completed the 300-yard walk.
Soldiers expressed the general sense of deja vu as the fourth week of the protest comes to an end.
"Here we go again," one said as they prepared to open the barrier to let through the parents and children, one wearing a green, white and orange "scrunchie" in her hair. "It's like Ground Hog Day."
At 8 a.m., RUC and army landrovers began to move in to the part of the road that boasts red, white and blue bunting, painted lampposts and flags fluttering from chimneys. A large banner hung across the street read: "For God and Ulster, God Save the Queen."
The protestors were noisier after parents collected their children at 3 p.m. They blew air-horns and heckled.
"You shirt-lifters," said one.
"Paedophiles," shouted another.
One parent retorted with: "Where's Johnny Adair now?"
Most of the children wouldn't have heard this exchange. They were singing pop songs to drown out the whistles and horns.