Crowds gather for Orange Order parade in Donegal

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  1. Five men are side by side in front of a stone wall. Each of them are wearing orange and purple sashes around their necks, dark blazers and bowler hats. The man on the far left is sitting in a red mobility scooter
    Reuters

    Orangemen prepare to march along the beach in Rossnowlagh

Keiron Tourish
BBC News NI

Large crowds have gathered in County Donegal for the annual Orange Order parade in the seaside village of Rosssnowlagh.

About 50 lodges and bands from counties Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan are taking part along with other Orangemen from across Northern Ireland.

Some visitors from overseas also take in the demonstration.

The grand master of the Orange Order in Donegal, David Mahon, said the order was going from strength to strength in the County.

A man is stood in front of a hedge. He is wearing a dark suit and an orange sash around his shoulders. In his right hand is a flag with golden tassels. In the hedge to his right is a flag of King William on a horse. Reuters

Bands from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan are taking part along with other Orangemen from across Northern Ireland

"It's always a good carnival type of day, with lots of people selling burgers, chips and other things that go with it," Mr Mahon said.

"It's an important day for the Order as it's the only Twelfth [parade] we have in the Republic of Ireland.

"It means a lot for the members. We've always had the Twelfth here for as long as I can remember and that's a long while," he added.

Mr Mahon said the order has good relations with the Catholic community in Donegal.

"They help us out any way they can on the day with car parking and things like that," he said.

The Rossnowlagh parade takes place each year on the Saturday before the main Twelfth of July commemorations in Northern Ireland.

The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, when Protestant William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II in 1690.

A man is walking in a field with an umbrella in his right hand. He is looking down at the ground, wearing a dark suit, black bowler hat and an orange sash around his shoulders. Reuters

The event in Rossnowlagh is the only Twelfth in the Republic of Ireland

Alan Thompson in a mobility scooter and holding a black umbrella. He is wearing a grey suit, and has an orange order sash around his shoulders. He is looking directly at the camera.

Alan Thompson travelled to Rossnowlagh from Ballinamallard

Alan Thompson told BBC News NI he loved coming to Rossnowlagh for the celebrations.

"It's always a great day and there's never any bother, always a great atmosphere," he said.

"I've come down from Ballinamallard. Lovely bands here and I just love coming down."

Gillian Stronge from Fermanagh said she enjoyed the parade whatever the weather.

"The whole atmosphere is just brilliant and there's always a big crowd," she said.

"I'm here with friends from Fermanagh and it's one of the highlights of the year."

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