“better understanding cultural and historical aspects of parading and protest in Northern Ireland..”

Bizarre short report in the Irish Times on the Northern Ireland Parades Commission and their apparent self-education programme – “Six members of the commission have been on a three-day visit [to Dublin] ending today to sites associated with the Easter Rising in 1916.”

Dr [Michael] Boyle [director of programmes and policy at the commission] said it was useful for the commission to increase its knowledge of the background to historical events. Dr Boyle said there were no plans at this time to organise further tours in the Republic, though he expressed interest in the lessons to be learned from the 1798 Rebellion.

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