Chapter Chat: Last Saturday at five venues brings down curtain on parade season
The Royal Black Institution will mark the finale of the parading season with five major Last Saturday demonstrations on August 29.
Upwards of 17,000 members will take part in the parades, involving around 350 preceptories and 300 bands.
Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson will attend the gathering in Dundonald.
He said: “The annual Last Saturday processions are flagship events on the parading calendar.
“We expect to see thousands of supporters turning out at the various locations, where they will see a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history.
“I was very impressed by the huge crowds of supporters who enjoyed the annual July celebrations at Scarva and Bangor, and by the great attendance at Brookeborough on August 1.”
He added: “The institution’s principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront at all our demonstrations on the Last Saturday, with religious services held at each location.”
COLERAINE
The Co Londonderry demonstration is taking place in Coleraine, where it was last held in 2006.
Members of 33 preceptories and 31 bands will be among the 2,500 participants in the parade, which will involve four districts – Coleraine No 1, City of Londonderry No 2, Raphoe No 3 and South Londonderry No 4.
The demonstration field is at Coleraine Showgrounds, where the main platform speakers will include Mervyn Kernaghan, assistant sovereign grand master; John Goligher, county grand master; Rev Joseph Andrews, county grand chaplain; and Rev Keith McIntyre.
The main parade will start at noon, with the return one due to begin at 3.45pm.
DUNDONALD
Members of City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter are travelling to Dundonald for their parade, which is expected to comprise 2,000 participants.
Sir knights from Belfast traditionally parade in various provincial towns and cities on the Last Saturday.
Sandy Row, Shankill Road, Ballymacarratt and Ballynafeigh districts are among the seven taking part, with 25 marching bands providing the music.
The event will include an Act of Remembrance at Dundonald War Memorial.
The morning parade will proceed from Moat Park to East Link Road, following a route including Comber Road, Drumadoon Drive and Upper Newtownards Road.
DUNGANNON
A total of 80 preceptories will be accompanied by the same number of bands at the Co Tyrone Grand Black Chapter demonstration in Dungannon.
Killyman RBDC No 1 is hosting the event, which was last held there seven years ago.
Members from Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh and Armagh will join with sir knights from Tyrone in the 3,500-strong procession, with around 20,000 spectators expected to attend.
The procession will make its way to the demonstration field at Lord Northland Park.
David Livingstone, the county grand master for Armagh, will be the principal speaker. Platform proceedings will be chaired by Harold Erskine, county grand master, Tyrone, with the service of worship conducted by Canon Alan Irwin, county grand chaplain, Tyrone.
LARNE
Around 5,000 participants are expected to parade at the Co Antrim demonstration in Larne.
Seventy-six preceptories, accompanied by 71 bands, will make their way to the demonstration point at Sandy Bay playing fields.
Sir knights from six districts will be involved: Lisburn No 1, Ballymena No 2, Antrim No 3, Larne No 4, Ballymoney No 5 and Ballyclare No 6.
The organisers expect up to 10,000 spectators, with the main parade starting at noon, and the return parade scheduled for 4.15pm.
Platform speakers include Rev David McCarthy, Co Antrim grand chaplain, and Rev Dr Ronald Johnstone, district chaplain, Newtownards RBDC No 11.
NEWRY
Newry will host the largest Last Saturday demonstration.
The organisers, Newry Royal Black District No 4, are looking forward to a parade of up to 5,000 participants, including the members of around 100 bands.
They said: “Locally, the event provides a significant platform for the public expression of the Protestant and unionist cultural tradition in Newry City.
“This is particularly significant as Newry has not hosted the Royal Black Institution's Last Saturday demonstration since 2011.”
Around 5,000 spectators are expected as the parade makes its way from the assembly area at Newry High School to the demonstration field at Shandon Park, taking two hours to pass any given viewing point.
The main parade will begin at noon, with the return parade due to start at 4pm.
Platform speakers will include Paul McCarroll, the county grand master; Rev Nigel Reid, chaplain of RBP 38 and minister of Tullyallen and Mountnorris Congregations; and Raymond Adams, county grand chaplain.