Tens of thousands of people are set to march in Northern Ireland today for the Orange Order’s annual Twelfth parades.
The celebrations mark 336 years since the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II.
Events are set to take place in 18 main locations throughout the region – though because July 12 landed on a Sunday this year, the traditional parades have been moved to Monday.
Forecasters are predicting warm and sunny conditions for the day’s festivities, while the Orange Order’s Grand Master Harold Henning has praised today as a celebration of 230 years of parading.
“Our parades are a vibrant public expression of our identity, culture and heritage and that tradition is one which is held dear by a great many people in our community,” he said.
Bonfires were lit at hundreds of sites in loyalist areas over the last three nights as part of the celebrations.
And today, members from over 1,000 lodges, accompanied by approximately 600 marching bands, will turn the streets of the province orange.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Nine-month-old Co Armagh flute band to make Twelfth debut – with all 32 members younger than 20
A County Armagh flute band set up just nine months ago will parade at this year’s Twelfth parade – with all its 32 members younger than 20.
The Moyrourkan True Blues were founded by two 17-year-olds last October after they came across an old newspaper article about a band that practised in their local Orange hall 50 years ago.
Bandmaster Jack McClure told the Belfast Telegraph ahead of today’s celebrations: “We knew nothing about this other band that practised here before… None of the members of the lodge here really knew much either. It’s 50 years since that band was founded, so I thought it would be a good time to start up another one.
“The original band only lasted about six years. We’re hoping we do better than that.”
His deputy, Ben Wilson, added: “It’s worked well because we all knew each other before this, so we’d built up relationships already… We didn’t even really have to do a recruitment drive. Friends of friends came along and there are now more young people wanting to join than we can actually take.
“We did seven parades last week and everyone’s just so keen. Some bands struggle to get people out for one parade a week. It just shows how much our members want to be out there parading!”
Orange Order praises ‘vibrant public expression of our identity, culture and heritage’ as Northern Ireland wakes up for Twelfth
PICTURED: Members of the Orange Order take part in a parade in Belfast for 2025’s Twelfth festivities
|
GETTY
Orange Order Grand Master Harold Henning said the significance of Orange culture and tradition is “underlined by the scale of the parades” in an upbeat statement ahead of today’s parades and festivities.
He said: “The tradition of Orange parades stretch back 230 years, and the Twelfth continues to draw huge attendances of both participants and spectators.
“Our parades are a vibrant public expression of our identity, culture and heritage and that tradition is one which is held dear by a great many people in our community.
“The colour and pageantry on show on the Twelfth has increasingly been proven to be an attraction to visitors to Northern Ireland seeking an authentic cultural and heritage experience.
“The hundreds of bands on display include some of the very best marching flute, pipe, brass and accordion bands in the world. The iconic traditional sound of the Lambeg drum is another unique aspect of the Twelfth, and one which we are glad to see flourishing with a new generation of fifers and drummers.”
Where can we expect parades today?
Events are slated to take place at 18 main locations throughout Northern Ireland later today.
Parades are scheduled for Ballymena, Larne, Ballymoney, Portglenone, Glenarm, Newtownhamilton, Belfast, Rathfriland, Killyleagh, Royal Hillsborough, Ballymartin, Ballywalter, Maguiresbridge, Limavady, Kilrea, Cookstown, Castlederg and Aughnacloy.
The County Armagh parade is widely considered the biggest of the day, while Belfast’s route stretches more than six miles, making it the longest march of the celebrations.
Though the Royal Black Preceptory’s traditional Scarva event, which features a mock battle between actors portraying Kings William and James, has been rescheduled to tomorrow.
GB News back with ‘very best coverage’ – as Twelfth parades return TODAY
GB News will once again deliver the very best coverage of Northern Ireland’s historic July 12 parades
|
GETTY
GB News will once again deliver the very best coverage of Northern Ireland’s historic July 12 parades – with the People’s Channel returning to Royal Hillsborough for a full day of live programming on Monday, July 13.
This year’s parades fall a day later than usual, because July 12 lands on a Sunday, and demonstrations will take place across 18 venues in Northern Ireland.
And GB News will centre stage with coverage running across Breakfast, Britain’s Newsroom and Good Afternoon Britain.
Presenting duties will once again fall to Dame Arlene Foster, alongside Coronation Street actor and commentator Charlie Lawson and GB News’ correspondent Dougie Beattie, who has fronted the channel’s Twelfth coverage over each of the last five years.
READ MORE ON THE PEOPLE’S CHANNEL’S LIVE COVERAGE HERE