Thousands attending NI’s Orange Order parades

Crowds have lined the streets of cities, towns and villages all over Northern Ireland to attend Twelfth of July parades.

Thousands of Orange Order members take part in the annual marches to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The event is also a celebration of Protestant traditions and Ulster-Scots heritage.

Members of local Orange lodges are being joined on parade by visiting lodges from Scotland and further afield.

The main parade in Belfast set off from the Orange hall at Clifton Street in north Belfast.

Parades are also taking place in various parts of Northern Ireland including Coleraine, Dromara and Augher.

Northern Ireland Office Minister Fleur Anderson and Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly attended events in Keady, County Armagh.

The grand secretary of the Orange Order, the Reverend Mervyn Gibson, who was also in Keady, said the lead up to the Twelfth has been “tremendous”.

Asked about the Eleventh night and bonfires he said: “99% of everything passed off wonderfully.

“Today couldn’t be a better day for it, the sun is shining and the bands are playing loud, it’s just been a great Twelfth of July.”

Fleur Anderson said: “It’s important to see that you can have a cultural identity that can be celebrated and is also peaceful.”

The Democratic Unionist Party leader and Belfast East MP Gavin Robinson called for more political co-operation among unionist parties at the gathering at the end of the Belfast parade, where he was the main speaker.

He said some people dismissed the Twelfth and “would rather we keep our heads down,” adding that the event brought people together and was about “faith and freedom”.

“It crosses class, it bridges geography and it cuts across party political lines,” he said.

Thousands of people marched through Kesh in County Fermanagh, joined by members of neighbouring Orange Order lodges in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal.

Lyndsay and Melissa, who came from Birmingham to Belfast to see the parade for the first time, said the passion people had for it was “absolutely beautiful”.

“It’s like a tradition being passed over from generation to generation, I think that’s really important,” said Lyndsay.

However, both were surprised that marchers were parading in suits as temperatures soared.

Melissa added: “At least it’s not raining.”

Earlier in Belfast, a small feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in the north of the city at 09:00 BST without issue.

There was a small police presence at the shops, which in the past was the scene of parade-related trouble.

It is not permitted on the same route this evening, but the return parade will take place on Sunday morning.

The Orange lodges are accompanied by marching bands and supported by tens of thousands of spectators, many dressed up in colourful costume for the occasion.

This year’s events are concentrated at 18 locations, with members travelling to converge with neighbouring lodges at the nearest host venue.

This year marks the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, which took place outside Drogheda in what is now the Republic of Ireland.

The battle ended in victory for the Protestant King William III over his Catholic father-in-law, the deposed King James II.

In Coleraine, Terence and Mildred McAle were enjoying the “glorious weather” watching the parade with their dog Alfie.

“We enjoy the bands and the spectacle,” said Mr McAle.

Mrs McAle added: “It’s our culture and I enjoy a great day out. The grandchildren love it as their daddy is parading.”

On Friday night, hundreds of bonfires were lit to mark Eleventh night – a tradition observed by many unionist communities on the eve of the Twelfth.

The bonfires commemorate the actions of King William III’s supporters in 1690, who lit fires across the countryside to welcome him and guide him to the battle site.

Most Eleventh night bonfires pass without incident, but some are controversial due to their height or location, or because they contain symbols considered offensive.

This year a bonfire in south Belfast caused concern because of the presence of asbestos on the site, and the fact it was close to an electricity substation which supplies power to two nearby hospitals.

The bonfire, between the Donegall Road and the Westlink, was lit on Friday night after police confirmed they would not assist in removing it.