MORE than 100 Orange Order marches are set to take place in Scotland on one day, a National investigation has found.
According to public procession notices lodged with local authorities so far this year, there will be 280 loyalist marches across Scotland in 2025.
But our analysis of the figures found that on July 5 there are 114 marches lodged by various Orange Orders across Scotland.
The annual parades mark the Battle of the Boyne when William of Orange defeated King James II in 1690.
The majority of marches on that date will take place in Glasgow (51), North Lanarkshire (37) and South Lanarkshire (18). There will also be four in Falkirk, two in East Renfrewshire and one each in West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.
SNP MSP James Dornan, who has campaigned to tackle sectarianism in Scotland, said he was “disappointed” to see such a high number of Orange walks taking place and suggested calls for a Parades Commission are re-examined.
Anti-sectarian charity Nil by Mouth said it would be hard to find a solution that “pleases everyone”.
Scotland’s largest city is set to see the highest number of Orangemen taking to the streets on July 5. The County Grand Orange Lodge of Glasgow is hosting seven separate feeder marches from different parts of the city, featuring over 7100 people. Overall, an estimated 10,875 people will take part in the Orange marches in Glasgow on that day.
In North Lanarkshire, around 4145 will take part in 37 marches, while in South Lanarkshire, despite only having 18 lodged with local authorities, has a much larger number - 8550. The majority of these come from a parade organised by the County Grand Orange Lodge of Central Scotland, featuring 6500 people.
Elsewhere, Falkirk will see four marches of an estimated 550 people.
East Renfrewshire will see the Thornliebank and Pollokshaws Orange and Purple District No. 28 hold marches in both the morning and evening, with only 80 marchers at each event.
In Renfrewshire, the James Thomson Memorial Loyal Orange Lodge number 355 will host one parade with 100 people.
In West Dunbartonshire, the Dumbarton Orange and Purple District No 27 will hold one march with 70 people.
Overall, 24,730 people are expected to take part in Orange Order marches in one day.
“It seems strange that in 2025 there still appears to be a desire and a will, even if sometimes given under immense pressure, to continue to allow people's day to be disturbed with such regularity.
“I can think of no other organisation which is allowed such a level of permissions.”
He added that a Parades Commission could give a “dispassionate” look at the number of walks, the routes and the frequency, taking pressure off local politicians.
“I am not suggesting we ban such marches,” Dornan added.
“Only that they are held to the same standards as other marches and parades, and that the number of such marches are appropriate and done with the convenience of local residents and businesses at the forefront of their thinking.”
Nil by Mouth Director Dave Scott (below) said that the Derry Model, which focussed on cross-community dialogue, could be how to tackle some of the issues around loyalist marches.
“Marches remain a very emotive issue, one that’s very hard to see a solution to that pleases everyone and I'm far from convinced a Parades Commision required,” he said.
“However, one thing we’ve long since needed to improve is heeding the views of those living in areas with a high volume of marches and how they feel about the impact such parades have on their lives.
“The ‘Derry Model’, agreed to by the Apprentice Boys when marching through that city, warrants closer inspection in Scotland in that it saw one of the main march organisers recognise the changing demographics of the area it wished to parade through and codes of behaviour were set in stone. A similar approach in Glasgow would be welcome.”
Overall, Glasgow (106) will see the majority of loyalist marches in 2025, both from the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, a separate loyalist organisation.
North Lanarkshire (72), South Lanarkshire (32), and Falkirk (12) have the most scheduled so far.
You can see the full list of how many loyalist marches are in your area this year here.
