IN glorious weather, it was a good humoured and peaceful Belfast parade that passed St Patrick's Church in Donegall Street yesterday.
Once the scene of controversy, this year there was a simple, quiet respect.
The doors of the church remained open to the local congregation throughout the morning, a sign of normality returning to the area.
There was also no nationalist residents' protest.
Orange Order members marched mainly in silence, some engaging in a bit of banter with journalists, and all the bands observed the single drum beat restriction while passing the city centre building.
A few did break into enthusiastic drumming or music just ahead of the Union Street cut-off point, but they were minor incidents in comparison to the serious breaches of previous years.
Bands continue to pass St Patrick's with a single drum beat and with a very low key police presence pic.twitter.com/MksHAYiRSw
— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) July 12, 2017
In Ardoyne there was also barely a whimper as what was once Northern Ireland's most volatile flashpoint became a non-story, with more journalists than observers as the early morning feeder parade passed by.
A deal brokered last September to end a three-year stand-off held without a hitch.
Having reported on parades - and associated riots - for almost two decades, this was the quietest July 12 in my career.
There was no need for the 'riot uniform' of heavy boots and hard hat. Instead it was a sunny day with hopes of an early night, rather than one spent standing at police lines until midnight dodging various projectiles, at times unsuccessfully.
For the Orange Order this is a successful outcome and one they can be proud of, but for loyalism the issue of problem bonfires still sullies the celebrations.
The bravery of hard-working firefighters prevented serious damage to property at a number of sites where towering structures were placed close to family homes.
Fire fighters at Cluan Place bonfire in Belfast @PA pic.twitter.com/KzTm3ZpB4f
— Deborah McAleese (@DeborahMcAleese) July 11, 2017
Read more: Belfast apartment block residents tell of bonfire 'night of hell'
A racist banner about a Celtic footballer and a coffin bearing an image of the late Martin McGuinness, along with the familiar Irish tricolours and stolen election posters, all left a sour taste.
The power of social media means those images are no longer locally confined but shared around the world to shocked audiences.
Unionist politicians, many out yesterday enjoying the sunshine with their Orange collarettes, have remained silent since last Friday about a court injunction granted over bonfires on four council-owned sites in Belfast as well as the considerable offence and danger caused by some others.
Maintaining relations with new friends in the Tory party while still trying to keep loyalist voters onside is clearly a difficult juggling act.
The Twelfth celebrations really were a case of the good, the bad and the ugly face of racism.
It's significant progress but with much work still to do.
Video: Dial down the rhetoric on bonfires says Arlene Foster
