Approaching the biggest date in the ‘marching calendar’ this week, preparations are well underway in many communities across Northern Ireland for the Twelfth of July.
Tens of thousands of members of The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, accompanied by marching bands, will celebrate the 334th anniversary of King William's victory at the Battle of the Boyne. Thousands more spectators are expected to line the streets and roads of host cities, towns and villages to enjoy the spectacle of music and colour.
The 18 demonstrations on Friday, 12 July 2024, will be held in:
Newtownstewart, Benburb, Ballygawley, Newtownards, Ballynahinch, Annalong, Gilford, Carrickfergus, Derriaghy, Belfast, Killylea, Londonderry, Moneymore, Irvinestown, and closer to home - Ballymena, Ahoghill, Broughshane and Cloughmills.
BALLYMENA
Twenty-seven lodges and 15 accompanying bands and Lambeg drums will take part in the annual Twelfth celebrations in Ballymena.
There will also be two Ladies Lodges and two Junior Lodges on parade, namely Ferniskey WLOL No. 74, Sister Turtle Memorial WLOL No. 14, Ferniskey Rising Sons JLOL No. 265 and Duke of Edinburgh Memorial JLOL No. 621.
The town is the only location in Northern Ireland which has a Twelfth demonstration every year. Belfast City also hosts an annual Twelfth parade.
This year the honour of hosting the parade belongs to the members of Tullygarley LOL No. 473, who will be accompanied by Lambeg drums.
Route
The parade will assemble at Meeting House Lane Car Park.
At 12.30pm it will proceed to the demonstration field at community centre / playing fields in Tullygarley via Meeting House Lane, Castle Street, Church Street, Wellington, Street, Lower Mill Street, Galgorm Road, Waveney Road, Harryville Bridge, Queen Street, Toome Road, Tullygarley Road and Riverdale.
The Field
In the field, the platform proceeding will begin at 3pm, with Guest Speakers Wor. Bro. Henry Dunbar (Scotland) and Wor. Bro. Herbie Mailey (New South Wales Australia). The Religious Service will be led by Wor. Bro. Rev. Ian McClean, Grand Chaplain.
Presentation of awards will be made for best band on parade, best turned-out lodge and best Lambeg drums.
Return
The return parade will leave the field at 4:45pm, proceeding via Riverdale, Tullygarley Road, Toome Road, Queen Street, Salisbury Square, Harryville Bridge, Waveney Road, to Galgorm Road.
AHOGHILL
Sixteen lodges will take part in the 'Triangle' Twelfth of July parade which will be held this year in Ahoghill.
A total of 16 lodges will come from the Districts of Portglenone, Ahoghill and Cullybackey to take part, with nine bands and seven sets of Lambeg Drums with fifes adding to the spectacle.
The host District of Ahoghill will lead the parade. As each of the seven lodges takes their turn to lead the district each year, it is the turn of Patrick's Chosen Few LOL No. 414 with their Lambeg drums and fifes.
Orangewomen on parade will be Ahoghill WLOL No. 5 who will accompany Ahoghill LOL No.
653 who will be led by Ahoghill Loyal Sons of William Flute Band.
Route
The main parade will move off at 12.30pm from Killane Road following a route via Galgorm Road - Ballymena Road - Main Street - The Diamond - Church Street - Return down Church Street - The Diamond - Cullybackey Road - Cullybackey Road Link, to the demonstration field at the Ahoghill Community Centre.
The Field
As always, the emphasis is very much on family with food and entertainment for children, including inflatables, have been arranged in the field.
The Platform will commence as soon as the
last lodge has entered the field. Up first will be a variety of music, incorporating the Ulster Scots tradition. This will be followed by the traditional religious service where the main speaker will be Bro. Joseph Kennoway from the Belfast City Mission based at Ballybeen.
The Lambeg Drumming Tattoo will follow the platform and involve all the Lambeg Drums and fifes that were on Parade.
Although one of the smaller Twelfth demonstrations, it will feature a good mix of bands, including pipe, accordion, flute and of course, Lambeg drums!
Return
The return parade will get underway at 4:15pm via Cullybackey Road - Cullybackey Road Link - Ballymena Road - to The Diamond.
BROUGHSHANE
The Braid Twelfth of July celebrations will be held in Broughshane for the second year in a row. This time it is the turn of Buckna LOL No. 489 to host the celebrations.
Broughshane village sits in the Braid and lodges participating in the Twelfth here are Buckna, Pollee, Broughshane, Teenies, Jamison's Trues Blues Skerry), Aughafatten, Glenarm, Carnlough, Carnalbanagh, Lisnamurrican and Ballygelly.
Route
The parade, which will feature two sets of Lambeg Drums and nine bands, will start at Beechvale, Broughshane at 12noon, and will make its way down Raceview Road - Main Street - to the Carnlough Road, where it will turn back and return along Main Street before turning onto Knockan Road to the Community Centre, which provides the venue for the demonstration field.
Field
Platform proceedings will start at around 2.30pm.
The speakers on the day will be Bro. Tom Elliott UUP MLA and the religious service will be led by Bro. Rev. David Bissett, Deputy County Grand Chaplain.
There will be food, refreshments and entertainment for children in the field.
Return
Following the platform proceedings, the parade will reform at 4pm to return to Beechvale via Knockan Road - Main Street - Carnlough Road - Main Street - Raceview Road - Beechvale.
CLOUGHMILLS
The annual North Antrim Demonstration this year will be hosted by Cloughmills District LOL No. 14 in the village of Cloughmills.
The other North Antrim Districts of Ballymoney, Bushmills, Ballycastle and Rasharkin will join with their Cloughmills Brethren to commemorate the 334th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
The 43 lodges on parade will be accompanied by 29 bands. Lambegs are also a feature at this demonstration.
The parade will be led by Duneaney LOL No. 1025 accompanied by Duneaney Accordion Band.
Route
The main parade will get underway at 1pm taking a route from the assembly field at Drumadoon Road, along Main Street to the demonstration field on Ballycreagh Road.
Field
In the field, the platform proceedings will begin at 2.30pm.
The Religious service conducted by Bro. Robert Edwards with music provided by Duneaney Accordian Band. The Guest speaker will Wor. Bro. Maurice Kirkwood, County Antrim Grand Master.
Return
The return parade will get underway at 4pm via Ballycregagh Road, Main Street, to Drumadoon Road.