Tens of thousands of spectators are expected on the streets of several Co Derry towns for the annual Twelfth of July parades on Wednesday.
The largest demonstrations and celebrations in the county this year are set to take place in Magherafelt and Coleraine.
The Coleraine parades are expected to attract around 50,000 spectators with numbers boosted by holidaymakers along the picturesque north coast.
Read more: Twelfth of July: The reason people march across Northern Ireland
The Magherafelt parades, meanwhile, will see nearly 50 bands and lodges take part in the festivities.
Coleraine
Visiting Coleraine on the Twelfth of July will be the districts of City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge, Coleraine District LOL No. 2 and Limavady District LOL No. 6.
A special welcome will be extended to 10 visiting Brethren who will be travelling from Harthill District, Scotland.
The main parade will leave from Union Street at noon following a route through the town - Railway Road, Long Commons, Beresford Road, Blindgate Street, Dunmore Street, New Row, Church Street, The Diamond (left hand side), Bridge Street, Old Bridge, Waterside, Castlerock Road, Kings Road, Carthall Road - and out to the demonstration field on Wheatsheaf Road.
Platform Proceedings in the field will commence at 2pm.
The Service will be led by Wor. Bro. Rev. Alistair Smyth, Grand Chaplain, with the Sermon being given by Wor. Bro. Rev. Keith McIntyre, Deputy County Grand Chaplain and Chaplain Macosquin DLOL No. 8.
The return parade will leave the field at 3.30pm led by Macosquin District.
There will be two new bannerettes on parade, Macosquin District LOL No. 8 and Macosquin LOL 310.
This is also a very special year for the members of Articlave Flute Band as it celebrates its 150th Anniversary. The band held a special dedication of new uniforms in St Paul’s Parish Church, Articlave on Sunday, 30th April 2023.
Wor. Bro. John Parke, District Master of hosts Macosquin District LOL No. 8, said: "This year’s Twelfth celebrations have been organised with a 'something for everyone approach' and I would encourage everyone to come along and help us make it a resounding success."
Magherafelt
Taking in seven surrounding Districts - Ballyronan, Castledawson, Garvagh, Kilrea, Moneymore, Tamlaght O’Crilly, Tobermore and the host District Magherafelt - this will certainly be a family orientated Twelfth of July.
With almost 50 bands and lodges due to take part in the parade, spectators are in for a great spectacle of music and sights, from accordion, flute, pipe bands and even a few Lambeg drums.
The main parade will move off at 12noon led by the County Officers and Magherafelt District LOL No 3. The parade will continue along the one-and-a-half mile route to the field on the Moneymore Road, parading along the Castledawson Road, Broad Street, the Diamond, Queen Street and Moneymore Road.
Once in the field everyone can enjoy refreshments and a rest before the platform proceedings get under way at 2pm with Bro. James Evans, Deputy County Grand Master, chairing the proceedings.
The religious service will be conducted by Bro. Rev. Joseph Andrews, County Grand Chaplain, who will be attending his first ever Twelfth demonstration in Magherafelt.
The Rev. Rhys Jones, LOL 209, and a Deputy County Grand Chaplain, will give the address, with Bro. Rev. Nigel Kane and Bro. Rev. Raymond Kelly (both Deputy County Grand Chaplains) also taking part, alongside Bro. Andrew Moore, Lay Chaplain Magherafelt No. 3.
The main speaker on the platform will be Wor. Bro. David Scott, Outreach Officer at the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.
Following the platform proceedings, Brethren and Sisters will form up and leave the field at 3.30pm, making the return journey back to the buses on the Castledawson Road.
Junior Lodge, Magherafelt Junior LOL 80, with about 40 boys, also plans to take part in the parade. Formed in 2017, it takes its warrant number from a previous junior lodge of the 1930s. Similarly, a newly formed Women’s Lodge, WLOL 102, will take part in what will be their first outing at a Twelfth in Magherafelt.
Looking ahead, Wor. Bro. John Whyte, District Master Magherafelt District LOL No. 3, said: "After the restricted local Twelfth in 2021, due to Covid-19, it’s great for Magherafelt to be able to highlight the town again.
"The last time Magherafelt hosted a South Londonderry demonstration was in 2013. The ten local lodges, which make up No. 3 District, are looking forward to hosting the Twelfth this year."
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