Londonderry: Thousands march in Apprentice Boys parade
- Published
About 25 bands joined the parade through the city on Saturday ahead of a service of thanksgiving and a wreath-laying ceremony.
Several thousand Apprentice Boys have taken part in the annual Lundy parade in Londonderry.
The annual event marks the anniversary of the 17th Century siege of the city.
About 25 bands joined the parade through the city, which ended with the burning of an effigy of Lt Col Robert Lundy, known as Lundy the Traitor.
Lundy, who was governor of Derry, gained a reputation for treachery among unionists after his offer to surrender to the Jacobite army.
The parade through the city ended with the burning of an effigy of Lt Col Robert Lundy
The march commemorates an event known as the "shutting of the gates", when 13 apprentices locked the walled city's gates against the approaching army of the Catholic King James II in December 1688.
The Siege of Derry lasted 105 days and cost more than 10,000 lives, the majority of which were civilians.
Jon Boucher, the new Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), attended the event on Saturday, where he met members of the public in the Diamond area before chatting to PSNI officers on duty at the demonstration.
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Apprentice Boys governor Graeme Stenhouse said the parade was "the most important day in the organisation's calendar".
Each year thousands of Apprentice Boys march in Derry to mark the anniversary of the 17th Century siege of the city.
"There have been talks ongoing for over 25 years which have led to our parades being conducted in a good manner and relative peace," he said.
"It's important that we're shown the respect - we obviously have the right to celebrate our culture and our history - but its very important that's done in the correct manner."
Jim Roddy, of the City Centre Initiative, Bishop Donal McKeown and Chief Constable Jon Boucher watched the parade
The Bishop of Derry, Dónal McKeown, said: "We have various traditions here in Northern Ireland, particularly in this once very divided city, and it is important that we recognise the different traditions that make up the richness of who we are.
"So I am very happy to be here, to be seen to be here and to welcome anyone who comes to this marvellous city."
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- Published7 December 2019
