With last week's IRA statement being heralded as historic and momentous, surely the Falls Road would be the best place to gauge local opinion.
That was the theory, however with Féile an Phobail in full swing it seems that everyone you meet in the city's most famous stretch of road is a tourist. Colleen Mulligan from Auckland in New Zealand said she thought the IRA statement was "great".
"I am really happy for them. I would like to see a more positive response from people, I think that some have been a little negative."
Colleen, whose father hails from Donegal, is half way through her two month holiday in Ireland and said that she was delighted to be in West Belfast for such an historic occasion. "It is fantastic to be here. We knew that the news was coming up, but it is great to be here when it was announced."
Michael McAteer, Colleen's husband, is originally from Newry, but emigrated to New Zealand. He too was glad to see the IRA make this move.
"I thought that it was a very positive step from the republican movement, to get into the political scene. For the way to peace, they are on the right road.
"Michael, who cites the Troubles as a factor for his move to the southern hemisphere, welcomed the removal of the army watchtowers in South Armagh. "It has been very contentious in that area and the people will be very pleased to see them go."
Ainara Mendiola, a journalist with Basque daily newspaper Berria, was here to report on the political developments.
"I think that the announcement was something which the people have expected since Gerry Adams asked for the weapons to be put beyond use.
Mainly nationalist parties, and the British and Irish governments have been saying that they are very happy with the announcement because they think it will be a helpful step forward in the peace process. Maybe now it is time for the British and Irish governments to put pressure on and for the unionists to respond."
Ainara was optimistic that a devolved Stormont government will eventually come about. "I don't know when it will happen but think that unionists can't avoid sharing power with republicans and nationalists and in the end they will have to implement the Good Friday Agreement."
Brendan Murray, the only local person we came across on the rainy Friday afternoon said, "I am still basically soaking it up but I believe that it is a major and historic statement. Being from Clonard I recognise this as a dramatic and courageous thing that they are doing.
"When the like of Short Strand trouble is still happening and the PSNI just sit back and let it happen, it is more or less a leap of faith."
Looking back on the history of the Troubles, Brendan was pessimistic on the possibility of the loyalists calling an end to their campaign just because the IRA had ceased.
"In 1966, Gusty Spence and his cohorts were out on the streets when there was nothing happening, and now they are teaching loyalist children revisionist history that they were attacked in '69 when we know that the reverse happened," said Brendan.
Manchester woman Geraldine Ward came over for the festival and was delighted at the IRA's announcement. "It was good news, but it was expected."
A member of the 'Troops Out Now' campaign, she was happy to hear that on Friday the British army were in the process of removing the South Armagh watchtowers. "That is good news, they couldn't come down any sooner.
There is still more to be done. This is just the start. Let's see if they do it all."
Máire Hastings from Mayo was happy at the announcement but not the response of the unionists.
"I absolutely welcome it, although I can't understand the insane response of unionists. I wish they were more openminded and less begrudging. I found that when I was watching them on the television I was getting very angry and I don't even live here."
The Fair City actress laughed at seeing DUP leader Ian Paisley saying that he had spoken to George Bush. "If I were Ian Paisley I would not be boasting about that. I would be embarrassed talking to Bush after what he's done," said Máire.
