In West Belfast many people were getting on with their Saturday as events unfolded at Stormont.
Shops were busy and in the pubs and social clubs in Anderstown as much attention was paid to Glasgow Celtic’s match against Aberdeen as to the politics.
But one group were very much looking forward to the election of Northern Ireland’s first republican First Minister.
Sinn Féin Councillor Áine McCabe was out with party colleagues for their regular Saturday morning litter pick.
“I always hoped, and my two parents as well, you know, would have said, hopefully in your lifetime, not in theirs, and they both passed. So this is certainly an historic day, and it’s one that we’re all proud of all.”
Over in the Irish language cultural centre, An Culturlann, at the heart of the Falls Road Gaeltacht sector, a sense of history was shared.
Here Anton was enjoying a coffee with his son. He said “Is fíor, gur rud eigin stairúil tharla inniú…since the state was founded, it was founded to ensure that this day never came.
“So in that regard, this is seismic for this island.”
Mona was also glad see the return of the Assembly but was more concerned about day-to-day issues.
She hopes that “they’ll stick at it, and do the job they were elected to do, and get this place working.”
“You know, get it going, and all the waiting lists and all the rest of it, you know get something done with the health service”
Seán Mac Sheáin agreed.
“You can’t say it’s not historic, but there’s been so many attempts at getting things together in this part of Ireland, and throughout Ireland for hundreds of years so hopefully this works.”
A few miles away, but separated by one of the city’s many peace walls, the Shankill Road is the heart of loyalist West Belfast.
People on the road there gave a cautious welcome to the return of the Stormont Assembly and Executive.
Asked about the election of a republican as First Minister, Jim Tate said “I’ve no problem with Michelle O’Neill, so long as she represents the people, all the people and everybody gets a fair shake, and they’re treated equally no problem at all.”
A woman rushing past with her shopping said: “I’m just glad, they’re back in again, because this place is going from bad to worse, So I just hope they can all work together.”
The murals in abundance on walls around both the Falls and the Shankill are evidence of how much both communities value symbolism.
The concerns raised by residents of both about their underfunded public services show that bread and butter issues are also pressing issues.
