Jim Shannon: At its heart, Twelfth is a celebration of civil liberty and religious freedom for all

Over the last week, I have had the privilege of attending numerous community fun days across the Ards area, and I have come away filled with an immense sense of pride in our people.

What I witnessed throughout the constituency was a shining example of community spirit at its very best. These fun days brought together people from a mix of backgrounds and it was a joy to see neighbours and visitors alike simply sitting down together, enjoying a burger, laughing, and catching up on life.

This is the real face of our community - warm, welcoming, and deeply rooted in looking out for one another.

An enormous debt of gratitude is owed to the countless volunteers, community workers, and organisers who so tirelessly plan these events and then help out – not a restful day for them, and yet every year they work so hard for the benefit of their community.

From setting up gazebos to ensuring everything ran safely and smoothly, their hard work created safe, joyful spaces for families to celebrate.

Thank you for your dedication; our area is richer for your efforts.

Through it all, it is vital to remember the core message of the Twelfth. At its absolute heart, this anniversary is a celebration of civil liberty and religious freedom for all.

These are foundational rights that belong to every single person in our society, ensuring that everyone has the freedom to live, think, and worship peacefully as they choose – and I am honoured to march alongside those who understand that – because these principles of liberty form the bedrock of a free society, the Twelfth is a celebration that we can all be proud of, no matter our background.

Last week showed that when we celebrate our heritage with joy and openness, it reinforces the bonds that unite us all.

On a deeply personal note, to cap off what was already a wonderful few days of celebrations, I was filled with an immense, quiet pride to walk the parading route through my own home village of Ballywalter.

To look out and see a literal sea of thousands of smiling faces lining the roads, young and old, from so many sectors in society from entrepreneurs to retired, from teachers to doctors, from house builders to homemakers – so many of whom are lifelong friends, neighbours, and constituents I have known for decades – is an experience that always humbles me to my core.

But what made this year truly unforgettable, a real and precious gift that I will long cherish, was having my beautiful granddaughters walking some of the route right there beside me.

Seeing the next generation stepping out with such joy, carrying our traditions forward with pride, encapsulates exactly why these days matter so much.

It was a beautiful reminder that the heritage we celebrate is not just about our past, but about the bright, shared future we are building for our children and grandchildren.

Jim Shannon, DUP MP for Strangford