Hi °C | Lo °C An annual Christmas gala marking increasing peace in Northern Ireland comes to an end tonight - after 10 years.
But the event at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast could still rise again in the future - at Easter.
It is unlikely, however, to return before 2008 at the earliest, organisers said today.
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern are expected to send special messages to today's two performances of the last 'peace' gala.
But the Sligo-based Presbyterian minister who first brought the gala celebration to Belfast in 1996 said it was time for the Christmas gathering to end.
Rev Alan Mitchell said: "Compared to 10 years ago, the cultural, social and religious life of Belfast is just booming.
"If you look back over the 10 years, every year the situation has improved in the province to where we are today.
"Now we are on the verge of having our own Assembly and I believe it's going to happen. It's only a matter of months until it's up and running.
"What we might like to do then is, moving from Christmas with the associations of the past, to Easter which is a time of new hope, new life and new beginnings."
Scores of victims of the Troubles are invited to the event, which was first mooted as a suggested north-south 'Songs of Praise' event.
In fact it became a much bigger 'gig', attracting a video message from then US President Bill Clinton.
Rev Mitchell admits today's 'last hurrah' will be very emotional. It will be an evening full of memories, he said.
