EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW as Twelfth parades get under way

Tens of thousands of members of the Orange Order were preparing today to attend parades right across Northern Ireland.

Demonstrations, marking the 328th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, will take place at a total of 17 venues.

Orangemen, women and junior members will be accompanied by more than 600 marching bands.

The largest Twelfth gathering will be at the birthplace of Orangeism in the Co Armagh village of Loughgall.

The parade there will pass by the Museum of Orange Heritage at Sloan’s House, where the Orange Institution was founded in 1795 after the Battle of the Diamond, located on the outskirts of the village.

The Order is also expecting a large Scottish contingent in Belfast where the traditional Twelfth parade will take place as usual.

Other significant parades will take place in Londonderry, Brookeborough (Fermanagh), Ballyclare (Antrim), Donaghcloney (Down) and Stewartstown (Tyrone).

Meanwhile, breaking with tradition, more than 1,000 Orangemen from Mourne District will be converging on Newcastle for the demonstration.

Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, said the Twelfth offered a “unique” opportunity for the Institution to “showcase our culture and heritage.”

“We are confident of welcoming increasing numbers of visitors, tourists and families to all of our parades,” he said.

“There are very few events on these islands that can bring such vast numbers of people onto the streets, either by taking part or simply to watch the music and pageantry.”

And he added: “The Twelfth is truly a day like no other as we celebrate much that is important to the Reformed faith, our civil and religious liberties and our British heritage.

“Our proud cultural traditions will once again be on display at 17 venues throughout Northern Ireland.”

At a glance:

LOUGHGALL

A total of 11 District lodges will be on parade, with more than 150 private lodges and upwards of 5,000 brethren.

The Women’s Institute will also be taking part along with several Junior lodges.

Around 65 bands, including a small number from Scotland, will accompany the lodges.

The Co Armagh Twelfth rotates around the Districts in an 11-year cycle and this year it is the turn of Loughgall District LOL No. 3 to host the celebrations.

The District is one of the most geographically widespread within the county, with 22 private lodges and over 700 members; the District area stretches from just outside Armagh City into Co Tyrone.

The lodges of the host District will assemble at McDowell’s Hill on the Armagh side of the village from 9am and joined by County Grand Lodge Officers, will then proceed to the War Memorial close to the Parish Church for a short Act of Remembrance and wreath-laying, to commemorate all those who paid the supreme sacrifice in Two World Wars and other conflicts, including the Troubles. The District will then await the first of the visiting Districts who will arrive from 9.15am onwards.

There will be at least two new banners having their first outing on the Twelfth this year, namely those of Derrykeevan Temperance LOL 352, Portadown District; and Derrycorry Purple Guards Temperance LOL 52 from the host District.

The chair will be taken at 1.45pm by the County Grand Master, Denis Watson, and proceedings will commence with the traditional religious service, conducted by Rev Dr Alan McCann, County Grand Chaplain.

The main address will be given by the Rev William Anderson, Loughgall District Chaplain. During the proceedings, a collection will be taken up for the Newry Hospice and Drew Nelson Legacy Project.

The return parade is scheduled to commence at 3pm, with Killylea District LOL No 7 being the first to leave. County Officers will review the parade at Loughgall District Orange Hall.

BELFAST

The parade to mark the 328th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in the capital city left Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus, at 10am.

As is tradition, the Millar Memorial Flute band will lead the parade as it makes its way along Clifton Street, Donegal Street, Royal Avenue, Castle Junction and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall.

A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph in the grounds of the City Hall shortly before 10.30am and the parade will then proceed via Donegal Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to Barnett’s Demense.

Orangemen and women representing a total of nine districts – accompanied by approximately 60 bands – will walk the six-mile route, traditionally the longest of all the Twelfth demonstrations.

As usual, thousands of spectators including visitors from other countries are expected to line much of the route through the capital city. Most notable will be the large Scottish contingent who always travel to Belfast to both participate in and spectate at the procession. Among those taking part will be the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, Jim McHarg, and over 20 bands.

The platform proceedings at Barnett’s Demesne will begin at 3pm and the chairman for the afternoon will be the County Grand Master, Spencer Beattie.

Mr McHarg will be the guest speaker.

The return parade is due to leave the field and proceed towards the city centre at 4.15pm.

BROOKEBOROUGH

The Co Fermanagh demonstration will take place in the village of Brookeborough this year.

The Fermanagh parade traditionally encompasses the entire county and will again play host to visiting lodges from the Republic, representing Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.

Up toof 90 private lodges, members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen, Juniors, and around 70 bands in one of the larger demonstrations across the province.

Lodges and bands will move off from the assembly field on the Lisnaskea Road at 11.30am and proceed through the village to the demonstration field on the A4 Belfast Road.

Two lodges, Rosslea LOL 173 and Crom Castle LOL 1219, will have new banners on parade.

The platform proceedings and religious service will commence at 1.30pm. The formalities will be chaired by County Fermanagh Grand Master Stuart Brooker. The guest speaker will be Rev Dr Alan McCann, County Armagh Grand Chaplain.

The return parade is due to commence at 2.45pm.

Brookeborough is hosting its first Twelfth demonstration since 2010.

STEWARTSTOWN

The largest Twelfth parade in Tyrone will take place in one of the county’s smallest villages.

Orangemen and women from seven districts will step out in Stewartstown; representing the host district as well as Killyman, Cookstown, Castlecaulfield, Pomeroy, Coagh and Benburb. The Twelfth was last held in the Mid Ulster village seven years ago.

Some 70 lodges and 50 bands will participate in the annual gathering.

The main parade will commence at 12.15pm from the assembly field on the Coagh Road. From there, it will proceed via North Street, The Square, Hillhead and on to the demonstration field on the Coalisland Road.

The religious service will incorporate a drumhead service where the proceedings will be conducted by the District Chaplain, Rev Robert Boyd. The resolutions will be proposed by Deputy County Grand Master, Robert Abernethy.

CASTLEDERG

The most senior Orangeman in Ireland will be the guest speaker at the Twelfth in Castlederg.

Six districts - Sixmilecross, Strabane, Fintona, Omagh, Killen and Newtownstewart – will be on parade in the west Tyrone town.

Fifty-six lodges and about 50 bands will assemble at Mitchell Park on the Lower Strabane Road and head off, at 12.30pm, via Upper Strabane Road, William Street, John Street, Main Street and along the Castlegore Road to the demonstration field.

Local lodge Kilclean LOL 773 will also have a new banner on display, having only being unfurled for the first time only days before the Twelfth.

The religious service – which will commence at 2.30pm – will be conducted by local minister, Rev David Reid, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

Among the platform party will be past County Tyrone Grand Master, Jim Emery, and visiting Orangeman, Rev Jason Lingiah, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland.

The return parade will leave the field at 4.30pm.

BALLYGAWLEY

One of the smallest Twelfth parades in Co Tyrone will take place in the village of Ballygawley, which this year hosts the annual Clogher Valley demonstration.

The procession will once again have a cross-border element, as is tradition, with brethren from Monaghan walking with local lodges on the big day.

Among the approximate 20 lodges representing three districts – Annahoe, Fivemiletown and Truagh – will be a number of Orangewomen as well as Junior members of the Institution.

The Clogher Valley parade is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere and the wide variety of bands - pipe, silver, accordion and flute - all adding much sound to proceedings.

Parade participants will assemble in the vicinity of Ballygawley Presbyterian Church at 12.15pm and proceed through the village to the new demonstration field on the Old Dungannon Road.

The guest speaker during the religious service will be Rev Trevor Boyd, chaplain of Pomeroy District. Among the senior Orangemen in attendance will be County Tyrone Grand Master, Perry Reid.

LONDONDERRY

The maiden city will host a Twelfth parade for the first time in five years as members of the Orange Institution step out in the north-west.

Around 60 lodges representing the districts of City of Londonderry, Raphoe (Co Donegal), Coleraine, Limavady, Macosquin and Claudy will participate in the main demonstration. Members of the Ladies Association and Junior lodges will also take part in the parade. They will be accompanied by more than 40 bands.

The main parade will move off from Glendermott Road at 11.30am, proceeding to Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, The Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, Bonds Street, May Street and Limavady Road to the field at Wilton Park.

The platform proceedings will be chaired by the City Grand Master, Maurice Devenney, and County Londonderry Grand Master, Samuel Calvin, will also be in attendance. The religious service will be conducted by the Rev John Noble, an Orange Order Grand Chaplain, and the Rev Mervyn Lindsay will give the address.

The return parade is due to commence at 4.15pm.

GARVAGH

Large crowds are expected to converge on the village of Garvagh for the annual south Londonderry demonstration.

There will be a total of eight districts on parade – Garvagh, Castledawson, Magherafelt, Kilrea, Ballyronan, Tamlaght O’Crilly, Moneymore and Tobermore.

Up to 60 bands will join with 2,000 Orangemen in the main parade, which moves off at midday. All districts will assemble at Ballynameen Avenue and parade through the village via Kuirn Road, Upper Main Street, Lower Main Street and Coleraine Road to the demonstration field.

Platform proceedings are due to get underway at 2pm and will be chaired by County Londonderry Deputy Grand Master, James Evans. The religious service will be led by Rev Joseph Andrews, County Chaplain.

Derek Reaney, an Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, will be the guest speaker.

NEWTOWNARDS

Orangemen from as far away as Australia will be among those taking part in the North Down Twelfth celebrations in Newtownards.

Brethren from Charlie Sands Memorial LOL 500, based in the south of the country, will unite with more than 40 lodges from four districts – Newtownards, Upper Ards, Holywood and Bangor They will be accompanied by members of the Institution from across the UK, Orangewomen and juniors – along with over 30 marching bands.

This year’s parade will be led by Loughries True Blues LOL 1948, together with William Strain William Lightbody Memorial Flute band, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary. The lodge will carry a bannerette in memory of former members who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. To mark the Armistice centenary, a number of Orangemen will also be in period dress.

The main procession is due to begin at 11.30am and will proceed through the town via Mary Street, Marquis Street, Talbot Street, Upper North Street, North Street, Frances Street, Zion Place, Georges Street, Portaferry Road, Court Square, Court Street, Old Cross Street, High Street, Mill Street, Frederick Street, Regent Street, Frances Street, Zion Place, Georges Street, Upper Movilla Street, Queen Street, Upper Greenwell Street, Georges Street, Portaferry Road and into the demonstration field at Londonderry Park.

The main address at the field will be delivered by the Rev Ron Johnstone, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

The Twelfth was last held in Newtownards in 2014.

NEWCASTLE

Over 6,000 members of the Orange Institution, and approximately 70 bands, will step out in the vicinity of the Newcastle promenade, with the picturesque Mourne Mountains offering a stunning backdrop for this unique parade.

Numbers will be swelled with the participation of the biggest individual private lodge, with Ballyvea LOL 343a boasting in excess of 160 members. Orangemen from Coventry, England, will also take part.

Thousands of spectators are expected to throng the town’s seafront, taking in the spectacle and family-friendly nature of the event. Among them will be many tourists and holidaymakers, staying in nearby caravan parks.

The main parade will commence at 12 noon from Donard Park, with lodges and bands proceeding the two-mile route through the town via Bryansford Road, Railway Street and Main Street before returning to Donard Park for the religious service.

Among the senior Orangemen in attendance will be the Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Rev Mervyn Gibson, who will deliver the address at the field.

The special guest on the day will be British mezzo-soprano, Emma Brown, who will perform during the platform proceedings. Newcastle last hosted a Twelfth parade in 2008.

DONAGHCLONEY

The small village of Donaghcloney will host its first Twelfth demonstration in 32 years.

Upwards of 100 lodges, accompanied by around 80 bands, will take part in the procession - watched by thousands of spectators - in what is expected to be the largest Twelfth in Co Down.

Orangemen and women of host district, Lower Iveagh West, will be joined by their contemporaries from nearby Banbridge, Bann Valley, Lower Iveagh, Rathfriland, Loughbrickland, Gilford and Newry.

The significant parade will mark the culmination of the ‘Cloney Festival’, incorporating a series of events and activities over five days in the lead-up to the Twelfth Activities include an Armistice exhibition, songs of praise, family entertainment and fireworks.

A new Orange arch will be opened featuring a memorial to those members of the Orange Institution murdered during the Troubles.

The main parade will set off from the assembly field at Moygannon Road at 12 noon and proceed through the village to the demonstration field on Drumlin Road.

During the parade, Lower Iveagh West district officers will lay a wreath at the village Cenotaph.

Among the lodges stepping out will be No Surrender LOL 20, from Banbridge, who recently completed a 130km charity walk on the Western Front, symbolically travelling from the Thiepval Memorial in France to the Menin Gate in Belgium.

The speaker at the field will be the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Harold Henning.

BALLYCLARE

Ballyclare will host the East Antrim Combine Twelfth this year for the first time in a decade.

A total of nine district lodges, encompassing approximately 70 private lodges will participate in the main parade. Adding to the spectacle will be over 40 marching bands.

Districts represented on the day will be hosts, Sixmilewater, joined by Larne, Randalstown, Staffordstown, Killead, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Cloughfern and Carnmoney.

The main procession is due to commence at 11am from the starting point of the Sixmilewater Leisure Centre on the Ballynure Road. The parade will then proceed via Main Street, The Square, North End, Ballyeaston Road, Erskine Park, Rashee Road, George Avenue, Foundry Lane, Doagh Road, Ollardale Park, Hawthorn Way and Avondale Drive to the field at Sixmilewater Park.

To mark the Armistice centenary this year, the respective worshipful masters from the nine districts will lead the parade for a short distance to Ballyclare War Memorial Park where they will lay wreaths to commemorate the ending of World War One. Two vintage war vehicles will head the procession. Meanwhile, participants are also being encouraged to wear poppies.

The religious service will commence at 2pm. The guest speaker is Robert Campbell, a Deputy Grand Chaplain of County Antrim Grand Orange Lodge.

BALLYMENA

Upwards of 30 lodges and accompanying bands will take part in the annual Twelfth in Ballymena.

The town is the only one in Northern Ireland which has a Twelfth demonstration every year.

This year the honour of hosting the parade belongs to the members of 36th Ulster Division Memorial LOL 143.

Orangemen and 15 bands, accompanied by a number of Lambeg drums, will assemble at the car park behind the town fire station at 12.30pm – proceeding to the demonstration field at Wakehurst Playing fields – via Waveney Road, Galgorm Road, Pentagon, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Ballymoney Street, William Street, Broughshane Street, Broadway, Church Street, Bridge Street, Harryville Bridge, Salisbury Square, Queens Street, Wakehurst Road and Brooke Park.

Among the lodges taking part in the parade – for the first time in over 40 years - will be Braidwater Purple Star LOL 512. The lodge, which has over 30 members, was recently resurrected having been dormant. Members will carry the original lodge banner which was preserved. The banner is unique in Orange circles in that it features King William III on both sides (typically only one side).

The guest speaker at the field will be the past Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Australia, Herbert Mailey.

Other senior Orangemen in attendance will include County Antrim Grand Master, Robin Matthews, and past Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Robert Saulters.

AGHALEE

Up to 2,000 Orangemen and women are expected to be on parade in Aghalee for the South Antrim Combine demonstration.

Seven districts will take part – Lisburn, Glenavy, Magheragall, Hillsborough, Derriaghy, Ballinderry and Aghalee.

It is seven years since the parade was last held in the village and a large crowd is anticipated to sample the atmosphere, and colourful occasion, of the biggest day in the parading calendar.

Around 30 bands will take part in the procession.

The main parade will assemble on the Soldierstown Road, and will commence at 11.30am, proceeding through the village up Aghalee Hill to the demonstration field on the Chapel Road.

The religious service will be conducted by a local minister, Rev Paul McAdams. The address will be given by the Rev Nicholas Cooper.

RASHARKIN

Over 40 lodges representing five districts – Rasharkin, Bushmills, Ballycastle, Ballymoney and Cloughmills – will take part in the North Antrim demonstration which is being held in Rasharkin this year.

There will be a rich variety of music on parade, with 26 bands encompassing the accordion, flute and pipe genres accompanied by a number of Lambeg drums.

The parade – involving up to 2,000 participants - will assemble on the Finvoy Road and set off at 1pm through the village via Main Street and Church Road to the demonstration field at the Turnpike.

There, a religious service will be held when the guest speaker will be the Rev Alistair Smyth, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. Roy Dawe, a former Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Canada will also be in attendance.

The local cultural group are holding a number of events prior to the main day with talks, exhibitions, trips, and the production of a book to highlight the history of Orange lodges in the area. They are also hosting a fun day for children in the demonstration field which will include bouncy castles, face painting and many other family activities.

The 11 lodges of Braid district will gather for the Twelfth in Broughshane, for the second year in a row.

It is one of the smallest parades of the day with over 300 Orangemen taking part but the Braid Twelfth is always a big attraction for visitors and tourists.

Orange lilies will be more prevalent than ever in the north Antrim village, which is renowned for its appearance and success in floral competitions, making it a beautiful location for such a parade.

Orange brethren will be accompanied by nine bands and a number of Lambeg drums.

Host lodge, Pollee LOL 841, have the honour of leading the procession this year. Visiting members from both Scotland and Australia are expected to take part.

The main parade is scheduled to start at 12 noon and those participating will parade from the assembly point on the Tullymore Road, proceeding through the village, before congregating at a field on the Buckna Road for the religious service.

The guest speaker will be Jim Allister MLA.

PORTGLENONE

This is the only Twelfth demonstration in Northern Ireland which crosses a county border during the parade.

Fifteen lodges will take part in the Triangle parade in Portglenone this year and they will walk in both Co Antrim and Co Londonderry.

In other years, Ahoghill and Cullybackey are the venues for the demonstration.

As is tradition, the distinctive sound of the Lambeg drum will be very apparent, with a significant number on display.

The parade starts at 12.45pm from Chesney Crescent in Co Londonderry and proceeds through the village, over the Bann Bridge into Co Antrim, to the field on the Clady Road.

Ian Wilson, a former Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, will give the main address during the religious service.

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