Tensions between the North's major parties at Stormont have been put on hold during the celebrations of the Nobel Peace Prize award in the Norwegian capital.
The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP may be at loggerheads back home on cross-Border bodies, but this has not prevented leading members of both parties from fraternising in the convivial surroundings of downtown Oslo.
At a social gathering in a city hotel, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, and the UUP treasurer, Mr Jack Allen, paid musical tribute to their native city when they sang The Town I Loved So Well together. They were accompanied on the piano by Phil Coulter, the musician and composer from Derry who wrote the song.
The audience joined in, with the SDLP leader conducting them and laying particular emphasis on the word "peace" in the lyrics:
We will not forget
But our hearts they are set
On the time we'll have PEACE once again
For what's done is done
And what's won is won
And what's lost is lost and gone forever;
I can only pray
For a bright, brand new day
In the town that I loved so well
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, was present at the time, but was engaged in conversation did not have an opportunity to take part in the singing.
Mr Hume also made a fraternal gesture to the majority tradition in Northern Ireland by singing The Sash. The Ulster Unionist MEP, Mr Jim Nicholson, later regaled the crowd with a rendition of The County Armagh, made famous in the past by the recording star Bridie Gallagher.
Earlier in the evening, Mr John Foley of Waterford Wedgwood presented Mr Trimble and Mr Hume with a pair of glass crystal Doves of Peace. In an atmosphere of high good humour, Mr Hume told the audience of nationalists and unionists they had all now become Derry people, because the city was founded by St Columb whose name was the English word for dove.
Mr Foley also presented cut glass bowls to the president of the UUP, Mr Josias Cunningham, and the SDLP general secretary, Ms Gerry Cosgrove, who said there was a new beginning for both communities in the North. She expressed her confidence that the party leaders would make the decisions needed to ensure further political progress, with the support of the people.
Mr Cunningham said: "While leaders lead, they have got to bring their parties and their electorate with them, and this is not always easy." He believed the unionists were not alone in this respect. All parties had their difficulties, "but we are doing our best, we are struggling, and so long as we remain determined on the end product, which is a stable, peaceful community, I think we'll succeed".
Mr Hume said: "I look forward to the spirit of this evening being developed very strongly by us back at home as we work together."
Earlier on Thursday evening the joint Nobel prizewinners attended a private banquet given by King Harald and Queen Sonja. Sources said Mr Trimble gave a pleasant surprise to guests from the SDLP when he paid tribute to Mr Hume's role as a leader of Irish nationalism who had persuaded his community to reach agreement with the unionist tradition.
The Shell oil company hosted a function for the Nobel prizewinners on Wednesday evening. Mr Trimble and Mr Hume were both present, but a spokesman for the SDLP leader said he had only paid a brief courtesy call.
The spokesman denied a report that a number of party members had stayed away from the event because of the human rights controversy over Shell's operations in Nigeria, adding that many members of the SDLP group had only arrived in Oslo late that evening.
Yesterday the Nobel laureates met Norway's Prime Minister, Mr Kjell Magne Bondevik, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Knut Volle baek, and had lunch with the British ambassador, Mr Richard Dales. They also attended an evening reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador, Mr James Sharkey, also a native of Derry.
The Nobel Peace Prize concert last night featured performances by the Irish rock band The Cranberries, the flautist James Galway, Phil Coulter, Phil Collins, Alanis Morrissette and Aha, as well as a number of local musicians.