12th July parades Northern Ireland: Orange Order publishes downloadable guide to every parade in response to growing inquiries from overseas visitors

The guide includes a preview, word of welcome from a local Orange leader and a map for every venue and parade taking part this year.

It has already been downloaded thousands of times.

There will be 18 parades at venues across Northern Ireland next Wednesday as the Orange family marks – in traditional fashion – the anniversary of King William III’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne.

Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson explained that the growing number of visitors travelling to Northern Ireland each summer to both participate in and spectate at the Twelfth parades was the driving force behind the project.

“Our Twelfth of July parades annually attract hundreds of thousands of spectators and participants to cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Year-on-year we have been experiencing a growing number of inquiries from members of the Orange Institution overseas and the general public who were seeking further details of the Twelfth parades.

“To assist them we have prepared a ‘Twelfth Special’ which can be downloaded from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland website giving details of all the venues, articles on the history, heritage and culture associated with the Twelfth.

“There has already been great interest with thousands of people already visiting the page to access their ‘Twelfth Special’.”

The 18 demonstrations on Wednesday will be held in: Ballinamallard, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Broughshane, Clogher, Coleraine, Comber, Dromore (Co Tyrone), Dungannon, Kilkeel, Loughbrickland, Lurgan, Magherafelt, Portglenone, Randalstown, Upper Ballinderry.

The Twelfth demonstrations will follow the traditional Rossnowlagh parade held in the Co Donegal on Saturday.

The ‘Twelfth Special’ can be downloaded from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland website – www.goli.org.uk/thetwelfth2023

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