Flagship Twelfth festivals revealed
THREE Twelfth of July demonstrations have been selected as flagships for the biggest festival in Northern Ireland.
The flagships will be the standard bearers for the 18 demonstrations being organised by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland on Monday, July 13, 2009.
The three locations are Banbridge, Bangor and Larne.
Events in these areas will receive special promotional support from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland.
The Grand Lodge will also work closely with the organisers of the flagships to promote the Twelfth.
Official estimates calculated that more than 500,000 people either took part in the parades or were spectators last year.
The Orange Order's director of services, Dr David Hume, said: "Last year the flagship Twelfths were Belfast, Tandragee, Dromara and Coleraine and they proved extremely successful.
"We know that more than half-a-million people enjoy the Twelfth and there is hard evidence that an increasing number of tourists are planning trips to Northern Ireland at that time of year so they can see the parades.
"All of our parades are very important and we will be working with all the organisers to maximise the positive impact of the Twelfth parades, but Grand Lodge decided that we should put an extra special effort into three demonstrations this year.
"We selected the three locations and we have no doubt that they will be a huge success."
Grand Master Robert Saulters said: "The Twelfth is a unique attraction in Northern Ireland and it brings with it immense benefits to the economy and to everyone in the community.
"We will be doing everything we can to make the Twelfth attractive for all the family and for anyone – local or visiting – who wants to see it.
"This year is very special for our institution. It is Imperial Orange Council year and delegates from across the Orange world will gather in Belfast in July for the 43rd Triennial Conference.
"It will be a fantastic opportunity to show off all that is good about Northern Ireland."
The Rossnowlagh parade will be held on Saturday, July 11 this year and the demonstrations on July 13 will be in Belfast, Banbridge, Armagh, Kilrea, Londonderry, Dromore (Tyrone), Bangor, Killy-leagh, Larne, Glenarm, Ballymoney, Annalong, Coagh, Fivemiletown, Bally-mena, Lisburn, Portglenone and Lisbellaw.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
