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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shaun Keenan

Belfast City Hall lights up orange and purple to mark Twelfth celebrations

Belfast City Hall lit up orange and purple on Monday night to mark Twelfth celebrations.

Bands marched throughout streets in Northern Ireland to commemorate what is usually the biggest day in the Orange Order's marching calendar

However, celebrations were slightly different this year with supporters instead marking the occasion at home.

The entire day of  ‘12 at Home’ celebrations has been declared a “great success”.

The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Most Wor. Bro. Edward Stevenson, said: “The 330th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne will be one we will never forget.

"We celebrated the occasion very differently this year with the 12 at Home and I am delighted to say it was a great success.

“The commitment of the Orange family to stay at home for the greater good of the entire community must be recognised.

"Normally, we estimate that up to half a million participants and spectators turn out on the Twelfth so the ability of the Institution to effectively implement its stay at home Twelfth should not be underestimated.

“We may not have had our traditional parades due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but this will be regarded as a great day for the Orange Institution. Coronavirus didn’t ruin our Twelfth – we adapted and celebrated it locally and at home.

“Covid-19 forced us to re-imagine the Twelfth of July for 2020 and the creativity shown by our members, their families and friends has been outstanding.

"I think there will be lessons learned as to how we could possibly add to and enhance next year’s Twelfth when, God willing, we return to our traditional parades and events."

You can see pictures of parades from right across Northern Ireland HERE.

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