Education Minister Paul Givan got a rough ride recently after meeting with the Loyalist Communities Council, which includes representatives of paramilitary organisations.
All the headlines centred around the LCC’s call for a planned Irish language school in east Belfast to be scrapped.
Whether a government minister should be sitting down with a body that has members of illegal groups among its number has been debated at length.
But it can’t be said the DUP man hasn’t shown a willingness to embrace the role of the Irish language in education since taking up his post.
That’s something probably unforeseen, considering eight years ago, as Communities Minister, he withdrew £50,000 funding from an Irish language bursary. It sparked a backlash from nationalists and resulted in a swift U-turn.
In March, a few weeks after taking office, his first words at Gaelscoil Aodha Rua in Dungannon were: “Maidin mhaith (good morning).”
A ceili dance with principal Mona Ui Dhochartaigh rounded off what was clearly an enjoyable visit for both him and the school.
From a PR perspective, he could hardly have wished for a better start with his new portfolio in a restored Executive.
He was back on similar turf yesterday, this time in the heart of republican Ballymurphy.
Teenagers and youth leaders were treated to a repeat performance at Glór na Móna community centre.
Speaking Irish, he requested an Americano, and ended quoting the well-known phrase: “Saol Trí Ghaeilge (A life through Irish).”
Mr Givan was given an A* by Foram na nÓg director Orliath Mhic Leannáin for his efforts.
It may not be the culture he comes from, but it is a culture he has shown he is willing to embrace, and that should be seen as more than a headline-grabbing publicity stunt.
In this place, our different cultures have been a problem rather than something to celebrate.
Every little step taken towards bringing people together, developing mutual respect for traditions, and learning to live together, has to be a positive one.
Maybe one day visits by a DUP minister to an Irish language school or community group, and attendance by a Sinn Fein First Minister at a Remembrance Day service, will not be viewed as news, but accepted as the norm.
As a society — culture by culture — there must be mutual respect, as well as an acceptance that not everyone thinks the same. It’s a lesson some on both sides of our divide could learn.