The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Centenary Parade will take place in Belfast in Saturday, 28th May.
The parade will assemble at Stormont and leave at 1pm to proceed to City Hall via Upper Newtownards Road, Lower Newtownards Road, Bridge End, Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Ann Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place, Donegall Place, Donegall Square North and Donegall Square West.
A traffic management plan will be in place however delays and diversions are anticipated throughout the Belfast area from Saturday morning through to Saturday evening and motorists are advised to leave extra time for their journey.
Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones, Belfast Area, said:
“This is a big event with up to 25,000 people expected to take part. We are also anticipating large numbers of spectators along the route.
“We are asking everyone who is planning on travelling through Belfast on Saturday to plan ahead and leave extra time for their journeys.
“We will have traffic diversions and management in place and would ask all visitors to the city to be patient and follow the instructions of marshals and our officers.
“Participants of the parade will be collected by coach at the City Hall and we will have a colour coded system in place to help people find their respective coach. Coaches will have limited time to undertake pick-ups so it is essential that participants go directly to their pick-up point. We will be on the ground to assist.
“We want everyone visiting the city on Saturday to have a safe and enjoyable day so please work with us and be considerate and respectful of all those around you.”
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has said it is expecting the ‘Orange Family’ to arrive in Belfast ‘in huge numbers for what promises to be an event to remember’.
The parade celebrating 100 years of Northern Ireland was delayed by 12 months due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Deputy Grand Master Wor. Bro. Harold Henning, who along with the CentenNIal Parade Working Group is looking forward to the big day and is encouraging as many people as possible to come along and enjoy the spectacle. He said:
“Partake, Spectate, Enjoy has been the catch-line of our plans for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland’s CentenNIal Parade - and that is exactly what we want the members of the Orange Family to do!” he said.
“This truly significant event marks the 100th birthday of Northern Ireland. We may have been forced to delay our celebrations by 12 months, but that wait only serves to make them all the more exciting.
“The parade, which will feature thousands of Orange Brethren, Sisters, Juniors and the bands, will make its way from Stormont Estate into Belfast City.
“We want as many people as possible to come along and be part of the day, be part of the celebrations and help make the Northern Ireland CentenNIal parade an event to remember for years to come!”
Participants from across the jurisdiction of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland will be taking part, as will members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland, Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the Royal Black Institution, the Independent Orange Order, The Apprentice Boys of Derry; Royal Arch Purple Chapter and visiting Brethren from across the United Kingdom and further afield.
The GOLI are expecting 130 bands and an anticipated 20,000 people who will take part in the parade, matching the scale of the Ulster Covenant parade which was held in 2012.
Platform proceedings will take place at 12noon. The Parade will commence from Stormont Estate at 1.00pm led by Grand Lodge Officers and Guests.
There will be a Food Village, family activities and entertainment available in the grounds of Stormont Estate from 10.30am. There will also be musical performances both in the Stormont Estate and at points along the route ahead of the parade.
Between 9.30am and 12noon, a free shuttle bus will run every 15 minutes approx. between Belfast City Centre - outside SS Moore Sports, Chichester Street - and the front gates of Stormont, with stops along the route. This may be used by families arriving at Stormont who wish to move to the City Centre or by Brethren to make their way from the City Centre to Stormont.
The shuttle bus will stop at any Translink bus stop on request.
After the parade the normal Translink / Glider services will recommence.
Spectators are advised to choose their location to watch the parade before travelling and arrive well in advance of the parade’s 1pm start time. There is no car parking available in Stormont Estate or along the parade route.
If arriving by car, please plan where you will park in advance. If parking in a residential area, please respect all driveways and access to local properties.
General information
There are portaloos located around the Stormont estate, along the 4.5-mile route and at the bus departure points. Please note it is a criminal offence to urinate in a public place.
Portaloos will be at the following locations along the parade route:
Stormont Estate
Opposite SD Bell’s Upper Newtownards Road / Knock Road
Earlswood Road / Upper Newtownards Road junction
KwiK Fit, Upper Newtownards Road
Upper Newtownards Road / Ravenscroft Avenue junction
Westbourne Glentoran Supporters Club, Newtownards Road
Westbourne Presbyterian Church, Newtownards Road
Bridge End / Station Street junction
City Hall
Alcohol will not be permitted in Stormont Estate and the majority of Belfast is a designated alcohol-free area.
The GOLI are asking all participants and spectators to follow the instructions of Parade Marshals and the PSNI at all times.
PARADE ROUTE
Prince of Wales Street - Upper Newtownards Road - Newtownards Road - Bridge End - Queen Elizabeth Bridge - Ann Street - Victoria Street - High Street - Castle Place - Donegall Place - Donegall Square North - Donegal Square West - Howard Street - Bedford Street - Bruce Street - Great Victoria Street - Hope Street
Sandy Row - Linfield Road - Boyne Bridge - Donegall Square South - Adelaide Street - Linenhall Street - Ormeau Avenue - Dublin Road - Shaftsbury Square - Bradbury Place - Lisburn Road - Sandy Row - Fisherwick Place & College Square East - Wellington Place - Donegall Square North - Donegall Place - Royal Avenue - Donegall Street - Clifton Street - Carisle Circus - Crumlin Road - Denmark Street - Hopewell Avenue - North Street - Peters Hill - Shankill Road - Castle Place - High Street - Queens Square - Donegal Quay - Queen Elizabeth Bridge - Middlepath Street - Newtownards Road - Templemore Avenue.