Twelfth parades: Orange Order members and bands marching in towns and villages across Northern Ireland with main parade in Belfast

The first full Twelfth of July celebrations since the coronavirus pandemic are underway across Northern Ireland.
Pride of Ardoyne, take part in a Twelfth of July parade in Ardoyne, Belfast, as part of the traditional Twelfth commemorations.Pride of Ardoyne, take part in a Twelfth of July parade in Ardoyne, Belfast, as part of the traditional Twelfth commemorations.
Pride of Ardoyne, take part in a Twelfth of July parade in Ardoyne, Belfast, as part of the traditional Twelfth commemorations.

Hundreds of Orange Order parades accompanied by loyalist marching bands are taking place in cities, towns and villages across the region.

In Belfast, the Orange Order’s County Grand Master, Spencer Beattie, said around 10,000 order members and bandsmen and women will take part in the capital.

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“In 2020, we were cancelled because of Covid, so this is the first time back on the street in our full parade,” he told the PA news agency.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne speaking with Father Gary Donegan while on a walkabout in Ardoyne, Belfast, ahead of a  Twelfth of July parade.Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne speaking with Father Gary Donegan while on a walkabout in Ardoyne, Belfast, ahead of a  Twelfth of July parade.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne speaking with Father Gary Donegan while on a walkabout in Ardoyne, Belfast, ahead of a Twelfth of July parade.

“We’ve had various smaller parades over the last couple of years reduced down because of Covid, but it’s great to be back in full swing again. Hopefully, the day will be a celebration for everybody getting back out on to the street and enjoying the day.”

The Belfast parade is one of the longer routes, passing through the city from Clifton Street, laying a wreath at the cenotaph at City Hall, and progressing on to the demonstration field at Barnett Demesne.

“It’s just great to get everyone back out again. You’ll have noticed from the number of bonfires that were about last night that everybody is coming back into the spirit of the Twelfth of July again,” Mr Beattie said.

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“It’s immeasurable how many spectators you have at the side of the road; that’s where you see the tourist part of it, in the city centre.

People are just happy to be getting back into a traditional Twelfth of July. We understood the reasons why we had to reduce the size of the parade – we had to keep people at home in 2020 – last year we reduced and spread about the city to reduce the crowds.

“But now we have got the full parade back on the road, people are out with smiles and enjoying themselves.”

On Monday night, around 250 bonfires were lit in loyalist communities across the region to usher in the main date in the parading calendar.

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Police said they were gathering evidence after complaints about election posters and effigies being put on bonfires.

The build up to this year’s Twelfth has been low key and lacking the levels of tension and rancour associated with previous years.

On July 12, there will be 573 loyal order parades. Of these, 33 follow routes that are deemed to be sensitive.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) plan on the Twelfth being their busiest and most resource-intensive day of the year.

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There will be 2,500 police officers on duty on the Twelfth, which is around a third of the strength of the PSNI.

PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne joined officers on the ground in the Ardoyne area on Tuesday morning.

The parade in the area, which previously saw protest and disorder, passed peacefully.

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