Out of the darkness (nearly)

Things are looking good for a devolved coalition government by 26th March. Ian Paisley Jnr is optimistic, Martin McGuinness is optimistic and so are the Taoiseach and the British PM. In politics you never celebrate until the ink is dry - and even then only moderately lest it appear you've had too many concessions - but maybe we should dream a little of what might be.

For the first time ever, all of Ireland would be self-governed by inclusive administrations. The two jurisdictions would continue, but real Irish unity is not about national borders, it's about our attitudes to one another - respecting the other tradition, celebrating the good bits of our heritages, eschewing the bad bits and agreeing that the best future is a shared one - without voluntary apartheid.

Here are nine sample photos from a current exhibtion on in Belfast. Whatever your tradition, see which one stirs you most. Union Jack or Tricolour, I know Number 9 is why I write this blog.