Wednesday will see the annual Twelfth of July parades roll in to towns and villages across Co Tyrone, with parades being held across the length and breadth of the county.
The Twelfth parades mark the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne, north of Dublin, in 1690 - a triumph that secured a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown
The main Co Tyrone Twelfth of July demonstration will take place in Clogher, Dungannon and Dromore this year.
Read more: The reason why people march to mark The Twelfth of July in NI
Large crowds are expected to be in attendance, including many tourists and visitors to the county, for what is always a wonderful Twelfth of July celebration.
Dungannon
Killyman District LOL No. 1 is hosting the Twelfth of July demonstration in Dungannon this year.
The district’s warrant was issued in 1798 so this year marks 225 years of Orangeism in this part of County Tyrone.
In total, seven Districts from the Mid Ulster/South Tyrone area will parade with 64 lodges and 41 bands.
The Districts on parade are Killyman, Stewartstown, Cookstown, Coagh, Pomeroy, Castlecaulfield and Benburb.
The demonstration is hosted by Killyman District in Dungannon every seven years, but because of the Covid pandemic it was last hosted in 2014.
This year’s parade will use one field, with Lord Northland Memorial Park providing the assembly and demonstration point.
The main parade will leave Lord Northland Memorial Park and travel along Park Lake Road, Moy Road, Ranfurly Road, Church Street, around the War Memorial in Market Square, Scotch Street, Railway Road, Milltown, Brooke Street, Wellington Road and back along Moy Road and Park Lake Road.
The day’s proceedings will begin at noon with a short religious service, the reading of the Resolutions and a short speech from Co. Tyrone Deputy Grand Master Wor. Bro. Derek Reaney.
Bands on parade include a great variety of pipe bands, silver bands, accordion bands and flute bands.
The parade will step off at 1pm with the County Officers, Killyman Colour Party, and Grand Mistress of The Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland Sister Joan Beggs leading the way. The Sgt White Memorial Flute band will be the lead band.
The districts will parade in the following order: Castlecaulfield, Benburb, Stewartstown, Pomeroy, Coagh, Cookstown and finally Killyman.
Killyman District LOL No. 1 was granted its warrant from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in 1798, thus this parade marks 225 years of Orangeism in this area of Co Tyrone.
Along with Derryoghill LOL 3, other founding lodges from Killyman District are Ballynakelly Rising Sons of Ulster LOL 157, Lord Northland Memorial LOL 178, and Newmills LOL 183.
Dungannon LOL 178 will be parading with a new bannerette celebrating 225 years.
Other notable anniversaries in Killyman District are Moygashel LOL 708, Boland LOL 375, Kilnacart LOL 296, Killyman LOL 338, which are all celebrating 200 years since their warrants were issued.
The sisters of WLOL 106 Moygashel are celebrating 100 years. Benburb District LOL No. 13, which will be on parade in Dungannon, has LOL No. 1 and LOL No. 4 on parade - they are Dyan and Benburb respectively.
The warrants for these lodges were issued in 1795 after the Battle of The Diamond.
Clogher
The Clogher Valley Twelfth is one of the smaller Twelfth celebrations with the two local districts, Fivemiletown and Annahoe, joined by the visiting lodges from Trauagh District in Co. Monaghan.
In total 23 lodges accompanied by 20 bands are expected to turn the village into a kaleidoscope of colour and pageantry. However, what it lacks in numbers it certainly makes up for in the quality of the event.
The parade is noted for the excellence of the music and wide genre of bands that take part. The day as a whole is marked by a family friendly atmosphere and is often the opportunity for many families to be reunited with family members returning to their home area for the traditional Twelfth.
The parade will commence on Station Road at 12.15pm, making its way through the town to the demonstration field. Bands and Lodge members will assemble at the Livestock Mart car park.
The procession on leaving the car park will make its way along Station Road, turning right unto Main Street. The parade will proceed along the length of Main Street leaving the town on the Fivemiletown Road and making its way to Dunwoody’s Hill adjacent to the cricket pitch.
Platform proceedings take the form of a religious service starting at 2.15pm. The return parade will leave the demonstration field at 4.15pm and retrace the route back to Station Road.
The recently unfurled banner of Aughnacloy LOL 156 will be a particular attraction on the day. The beautifully painted banner features an image of the Orangemen of Aughnacloy waiting on the local railway station platform to board a train on the Clogher Valley railway to take them to the Twelfth celebration.
The railway, which ran the length of the Clogher Valley, was decommissioned during the war years but still holds a nostalgic position in the minds of many within the Clogher Valley.
Prior to its closing the railway was used by many lodges and bands as their means of transport to the Twelfth venue. The banner was awarded ‘Best New Banner’ at the Orange Community Awards in March.
Glenageeragh Pipe Band from the neighbouring village of Augher, who led the District with distinction at last year’s Centenary Parade in Belfast, were recently crowned ‘Band of the Year’ at the 2023 Orange Community Awards.
Dromore
The Brethren in Fintona District LOL No. 8 will welcome their counterparts from Strabane, Sixmilecross, Omagh, Newtownstewart and Killen districts for a very family orientated Twelfth of July in Dromore.
The 50 lodges will be joined on parade by two local lodges from the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland and junior lodges. They will be accompanied by approximately 40 bands, including a range of pipe, accordion and flute.
The parade, which is approximately two miles, will move off from the Assembly Field on the Omagh Road at 12.30pm led by Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and Distinguished Officers, County Officers, Ladies LOL No. 2 District County Tyrone, Omagh District LOL No. 11, Newtownstewart District LOL No. 9, Sixmilecross District LOL No. 7, Killen District LOL No. 12, Strabane District LOL No 14 and Fintona District LOL No. 8.
It will follow a route along Omagh Road, Main Street, Galbally Road to the demonstration field at Trillick/Fintona Road junction. The platform proceedings in the field will get underway at 2pm.
Special guests will include Worshipful Bro. Robert Abernethy, County Tyrone Grand Master, who will be the main speaker; Worshipful Bro. Norman Henry, County Donegal, Deputy Grand Lecturer, who will give the address, and Grand Lodge, County and District Officers.
The reading of the Resolutions will follow immediately after the service. There will be plenty of food, refreshments and entertainment in the demonstration field, including a drum major display and music. A bouncy castle and children’s entertainment will also be available.
The return parade will leave the field at 4pm.
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