Londonderry to host Twelfth flagship event

There are 18 main Orange parades scheduled to take place, joined by more than 500 feeder marches

The Orange Order is holding its flagship Twelfth of July demonstration in Londonderry.

The order said Derry was chosen so that the march would take place in the UK city of Culture.

The demonstration will be one of 18 main parades planned across Northern Ireland on Friday, with another being held by the Independent Orange Order.

More than 500 feeder parades will join the main demonstrations.

The parades are an annual celebration of William III's victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The Orange Order was founded in 1795.

LONDONDERRY

The parade began at 10:00 BST from the headquarters of the City of Londonderry Grand Orange Lodge (Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall) to the assembly point at May Street in the Waterside.

Londonderry is hosting this year's flagship parade

The route of the morning parade is Society Street, Bishop Street, Diamond, Ferryquay Street, Carlisle Road, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, Bonds Street and May Street.

The main parade departed from May Street at noon and is proceeding through the walled city via the Limavady Road, Dales Corner, Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, Bonds Street, May Street and Limavady Road, to the demonstration field at Wilton Park.

The parade will leave the demonstration field at approximately 16:30 BST.

MAGHERAFELT

There are a total of eight districts on parade - Castledawson, Magherafelt, Garvagh, Kilrea, Ballyronan, Tamlaght O'Crilly, Moneymore and Tobermore.

All districts assembled on the Tobermore Road at 10:45 BST and are to parade via Rainey Street, The Diamond and Queen Street, before proceeding to the demonstration field on the Moneymore Road.

Platform proceedings are due to get underway at 14:00 BST and will be led by Londonderry County Grand Master, Hugh Stewart. The senior Orangeman is also the District Master of host district, Magherafelt LOL No 3.

NEWTOWNHAMILTON

Prior to the main proceedings, there was a short memorial service and wreath-laying at 08:45 BST in the King George VI Memorial Orange Hall.

The Whitewater pipe band led the Armagh parade through Newtownhamilton

The main parade commenced at 10:00 BST.

The parade route is: Newry Road - The Commons - Armagh Street - Castleblaney Street - Old Road - Demonstration Field. There are car parks provided close to the Demonstration Field and limited parking for people with a disability at The Commons.

The field is located off the Old Road.

The return parade is scheduled for 15:00 BST.

BALLINAMALLARD

The County Fermanagh Twelfth is being held in the village of Ballinamallard, and is expected to attract large crowds - including many tourists.

Southern Orangemen, who traditionally take pride of place at the front of the main parade, will join 90 private lodges, members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen and approximately 70 bands.

Lodges and bands moved off at 12:30 BST from the assembly point on the Enniskillen Road before proceeding along the approximate one-mile route through the village to the demonstration field on the Makenny Road. The main proceedings will commence at 14:30 BST.

Among the expected 10,000 spectators lining the parade route will be a group of ex-servicemen from the Irish army, who are based in Cavan.

BELFAST

The parade left Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus, at 10:00 BST and made its way along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue, Castle Junction and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall.

The DUP's Nelson McCausland and Nigel Dodds marched in Belfast City Centre

A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the cenotaph in the grounds of the city hall, as members of the Orange fraternity remember the sacrifice of those who served in two world wars and in the line of duty throughout the Troubles.

Nine districts are proceeding via Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftesbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to the demonstration field at Barnett Demesne.

The parade is due to leave the field and proceed back towards the city centre at 16:15 BST.

In a new initiative, the city hall will be illuminated orange and purple at dusk.

CASTLECAULFIELD

The biggest Twelfth demonstration in County Tyrone will take place in Castlecaulfield where up to 40,000 spectators are expected.

Orangemen from Killyman, Stewartstown, Cookstown, Castlecaulfield, Pomeroy, Coagh and Benburb will take part in the parade.

A total of 70 lodges and more than 50 bands will participate.

The parade left the assembly field on the Donaghmore Road at 12.30 BST and proceed through the village via Drumreany Road, Main Street, Hillfoot Terrace and Reaskcor Road to the demonstration field.

DONEMANA

The west Tyrone village will host six districts with lodges representing Sixmilecross, Fintona, Newtownstewart, Omagh, Killen and Strabane.

The main parade left the assembly field on the Longland Road at 12:30 BST and is proceeding past Allen Park, down the Main Street via Lisnaragh Road before turning onto the Berryhill Road where the demonstration field is located.

AUGHER

The parade left Favour Royal Road at 12:30 BST and is proceeding via the Main Street to the demonstration field on the Clogher Road.

The return parade is due to move off from the demonstration field at 16:00 BST.

BANGOR

Prior to the main procession, members of Bangor district participated in a short parade through the town centre, leaving the Orange hall on Main Street at 10:30 BST.

They then made their way to Ward Arras to meet with the other three districts for the main parade.

At noon, the procession moved off from the Gransha Road and is parading via Castle Street, Hamilton Road, Savoy Corner, High Donaghadee Road, High Street, Abbey Street, Newtownards Road and Abbeyhill Drive to the Valentine playing fields.

LOUGHBRICKLAND

Orangemen taking part in the parade in Loughbrickland

The parade will left the assembly field on the Legananny Road at noon and is parading through the village via Scarva Street, Main Street and Dublin Road, under the A1 dual carriageway, to the demonstration field on the Grovehill Road.

The return parade is due to leave the field at 16:00 BST and will proceed via the Dublin Road and Main Street to the Banbridge Road prior to dispersal.

DUNDRUM

The procession moved off from the assembly field at 12:15 BST headed by the host district, Castlewellan District LOL No 12.

The parade is proceeding through the village via Main Street, leading to the demonstration field at the Old Road (Newcastle side).

A religious service will be held at 14:00 BST.

ANNALONG

Kilkeel Lodges left Kilkeel Orange Hall at 10:45 BST to walk to Annalong.

The district will leave at 16:00 BST.

GLENGORMLEY

The main procession started at 11:00 BST from the starting point of the Ballyhenry/Manse Road roundabout.

The parade will proceed through the village via Ballyclare Road, Burnthill Road, Queen's Drive, Queen's Avenue, Queen's Park, Ballyclare Road, Antrim Road to the demonstration field at Valley Park on the O'Neill Road.

The return parade is due to leave the Valley Park at 15:30 BST and return via the Antrim Road and Ballyclare Road.

BALLYMENA

The lodges assembled on Waveney Road at 12:30 BST and will parade through the town via Galgorm Road, the Pentagon, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Ballymoney Street, William Street, Broughshane Street, Church Street, Bridge Street, Harryville Bridge, Larne Street, Larne Road, Wakehurst Road and Antrim Road to the demonstration field at Ballee playing fields.

MAGHERAGALL

The main parade moved off from Enterprise Crescent at 11:00 BST and is proceeding along the Ballinderry Road to the junction with the Knockmore Road, and continue along the Ballinderry Road to the demonstration field on the corner of the Lissue Road/Ballinderry Road.

The return parade is due to commence at 16:30 BST and will proceed along the Ballinderry Road to the Knockmore Road, where it will then disperse.

CARNLOUGH

The main parade started at noon from the assembly point on the South Bay, through the village to the demonstration field on the Largy Road.

AHOGHILL

The main parade commenced from the Galgorm Road (main Ballymena line)/ Killane Road junction at 12:30 BST and is proceeding towards the village centre via the Portglenone line, Glebe Road, Church Street, through the Diamond area to the Village Playing Fields on the Cullybackey Road.

RASHARKIN

Orange Order chaplain Rev Mervyn Gibson at the Rasharkin parade

The parade will assemble on the Finvoy Road and set off at 13:00 BST through the village via Main Street and Church Road to the demonstration field at Church Lane.

PORTGLENONE

Twenty lodges will parade in the Independent Orange Order's demonstration in north Antrim.