For years unionist politicians have blazed a trail in a nationalist hot spot at the annual public-versus-politicians event, West Belfast Talks Back.

But for the first time, this year the main attraction is to be a Republican — Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

And the senior Sinn Fein negotiator can expect as much of a challenge from the audience as this year’s unionist, North Belfast MLA Nelson McCausland, who follows DUP figures including Gregory Campbell, Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots.

Mr McGuinness and Mr McCausland are to be joined on the platform on Wednesday, August 6, by East Belfast MLA Dawn Purvis, leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party.

The evening, being held at St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Falls Road, will be completed by Sean Crummy, creator and author of the BBC’s Folks on the Hill series. It is part of a series of events during the festival which may spark controversy.

Former Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is to give the PJ McGrory lecture about her time in office, during which her investigation into the police handling the Omagh bomb brought her into conflict with former Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

Mrs O’Loan is also expected to speak about the results of ‘Operation Ballast’, the investigation into collusion between the RUC and the UVF in relation to the murder of Raymond McCord Jnr at Mount Vernon in 1997.

Belfast Telegraph security writer Brian Rowan is speaking at an event at Falls Road library on Friday, August 8.

And Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson will be in conversation with novelist Gillian Slovo who co-authored the play ‘Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom’ about her experience of being the child of revolutionaries.