Hundreds of thousands of people are excepted to take part and spectate in Wednesday's Twelfth of July celebrations across Northern Ireland.
This year, 18 demonstrations will take place across the country to mark the 333rd anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
Upwards an estimated half a million people are expected to participate or spectate in this year's Twelfth of July celebrations
Read more: Times and locations of all Twelfth of July parades taking place across NI
The 18 demonstrations on Wednesday, 12 July 2023, will be held in Ballinamallard, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Broughshane, Clogher, Coleraine, Comber, Dromore, Dungannon, Kilkeel, Loughbrickland, Lurgan, Magherafelt, Portglenone, Randalstown and Upper Ballinderry.
The Belfast city parade will leave Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus, at 10am and will make its way along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall for a wreath-laying ceremony then the parade will then proceed via Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to the field at Barnett’s Demesne.
According to TrafficWatch NI, in and around Belfast city centre a number of roads will be closed as indicated below:
Wednesday Morning Closures
- Shaftesbury Square 07:30
- A12 Westlink - Clifton St off slips 0830 - 1130
- Frederick Street 0815 - 1130
- Great Patrick Street 0830 - 1130
- Albertbridge Road 0915 - 1130
- Short Strand 0930 - 1130
- Station Street 0915 - 1130
- M3 Bridge offslip to Middlepath Street 0915 - 1130
- A2 Sydenham By Pass off-slip to Middlepath Street 0930 - 1130
- Middlepath Street 0930 - 1130
Wednesday Afternoon Evening
- M3 Offslip 18:00 - 19:30
- Bridge End 18:00 - 19:30
- Middlepath Street & Bridge End 18:00 -19:30
- Donegall Quay 18:20 - 20:00
- Queens Bridge 18:20 - 20:00
- Oxford Street 18:30 - 20:00
- Cromac Street 1830 - 20:00
- East Bridge & May Street 18:20 - 20:00
- Middlepath Street barriers 18:45 - 20:00
- Upper Malone Road 11:00 - 18:00
- Shaftesbury Square 08:15 - 19:00
Diversions will be in place and delays can be expected.
Translink has also warned of diversions to its Belfast Metro and Glider services on Wednesday due to the Belfast Twelfth July Parade.
Route information for Belfast:
The parade to mark the 333rd anniversary King William III’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne in Northern Ireland’s capital city will leave Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus, at 10am.
As is tradition, the Millar Memorial Flute band will lead the parade as it makes its way along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall.
A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph in the grounds of the City Hall shortly before 10.30am and the parade will then proceed via Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to the field at Barnett’s Demesne.
Orangemen and women representing a total of nine districts – accompanied by approximately 60 bands – will walk the six-mile route, traditionally the longest of all the Twelfth demonstrations.
As usual, thousands of spectators - including many visitors from other countries - are expected to line much of the route through the city.
The platform proceedings at Barnett’s Demesne will begin at 2.30pm and the return parade is due to leave the field and proceed towards the city centre at 3.30pm.
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