Orange family prepare for Glorious Twelfth
TENS of thousands of Orangemen and women will take to the province's streets today for the annual Twelfth celebrations.
Brethren and sisters are due to parade at 19 venues across Northern Ireland to mark the 320th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
A total of 1,400 lodges from the province and border counties including Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and Leitrim will be on parade, accompanied by an estimated 900 bands and Lambeg drums.
Around 70,000 members of the Orange institution will be walking, joined by members from Scotland, England, the USA and Canada.
Thousands of spectators, including tourists, are expected to line the many parade routes across Ulster’s towns and villages.
As is traditional, the Belfast parade will lead from the front with the main parade, incorporating 80 bands and over 200 lodges, commencing at 10am this morning from Clifton Street Orange hall.
However, the biggest Twelfth gathering is expected to take place appropriately in Co Armagh – the birthplace of Orangeism. Five thousand Orangemen, over 160 lodges and 80 bands are set to parade through Lurgan.
Other notable demonstrations include the five venues which have been selected as standard bearers for the largest festival in Northern Ireland.
The Grand Lodge of Ireland picked the towns of Hillsborough, Portrush, Cookstown, Newtownstewart and Antrim as this year’s flagship Twelfths.
The Fermanagh parade, which includes visiting brethren from the neighbouring border counties, will take place in the village of Brookeborough.
Other locations include Ballymena, Broughshane, Garvagh, Ballygowan, Waringstown, Newtownards and Kilkeel.
Twenty lodges from the Independent Orange Order will meet in the north Antrim village of Armoy.
UUP MLA Tom Elliott, who will be on parade in Brookeborough, expressed his hope that the biggest day on the marching calendar would pass off peacefully.
He said: “Passing down through generations the Twelfth of July has been the biggest day of the year for many Northern Ireland families and communities, it has also become the focal point of the parading tradition, exhibiting a glorious display of colour and talent.”
Meanwhile, participants and spectators would be well advised to have an umbrella on hand for the celebrations.
According to forecasters, despite some expected sunny spells there is also a risk of some scattered showers.
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Weather for Belfast
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Fog
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
