Oh, no – it's started already!
Tension is beginning to rise among the nationalist community in Lisburn as the City Council has begun implementing their new policy of erecting Union flags on all Council flagpoles throughout the city.
The first – erected in the predominantly Catholic village of Dunmurry on Monday – has caused outrage amongst local residents.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News yesterday (Wednesday), a Dunmurry man, who asked not to be named, explained: "My father is a Protestant, and I have no issue with religion, but I find the British flag deeply provocative – especially when it is placed in my village by my own Council.
"To Catholics living here, the actions of the Council this week amount to intimidation. It's very sad to see that Lisburn Council wants to go back to the old days when unionists marked their territory with Union Jacks.
"My family have lived in Dunmurry since 1916, but this is no one's territory. This is our home, and it has been a peaceful place of late, but this kind of behaviour threatens the stability of community relations yet again. It sends out the message that Dunmurry village is a no-go area for Catholics, even though Catholics make up almost 80% of the population here."
Lisburn City Councillor Paul Butler described the decision to fly the flag in Dunmurry as "total and utter madness".
"Dunmurry has over the years witnessed a campaign of sectarianism," he said.
"Now Lisburn Council want to mark out the village as unionist territory."
The Sinn Féin man warned that the decision would heighten sectarian tension in the run-up to the marching season. "This is a time when we should all be trying to work together for a peaceful summer," he said.
"Dunmurry village should be seen as a neutral place, where both communities can carry out their business, without any flags or emblems."
The Andersonstown News has also discovered that the Council are planning to erect a Union flag on the bowling green at the Lagan Valley Leisureplex.
Responding to the revelation, Cllr Paul Butler blasted: "This is a grave mistake. The Leisureplex is an area that is used by the whole community.
These actions constitute nothing short of triumphalism and sectarian coat-trailing by what is by far the most sectarian Council in the North of Ireland,"
"It is not a place for sectarianism, and those nationalists who visit it on a regular basis are likely to be extremely offended at the sight of this flag. The Council aren't doing themselves any favours in terms of promoting themselves in this way – they are shooting themselves in the foot, as many nationalists may stop using the Leisureplex."
Last week's controversial Council motion also proposed to "give consideration to" communities who want the Council to erect a new flagpole in their area to fly the Union flag.
Ironically, the proposal added that there is "a need to resolve the flags issue in a way which is widely acceptable to the local community."
Cllr Butler added: "Those on Lisburn Council who voted for this policy have behaved irresponsibly if they think the flying of the Union Flag in Dunmurry is going to improve community relations. Many Catholics in Dunmurry will see the flying of this flag by Lisburn Council as grossly insensitive."
