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The Twelfth celebrations

Monday, 13 July 2009

Orange Order parade in Bangor, Co. Down. A flute player with Newtownards Flute band enters the field.

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The Twelfth in Belfast today took a major step towards becoming a more normal day with city centre shops opening immediately after the province’s biggest parade.

Four-out-of-five outlets were taking down their shutters for the first time on the Twelfth in a bold experiment to test whether the attraction of the annual march can be broadened.

Retailers were awaiting the all-important “footfall” results, away from the tens of thousands of feet taking the ‘traditional route’ to the field.

And while a sectarian arson attack in Ballymena underpinned simmering tensions over the Twelfth weekend, against a backdrop of fears of a dissident republican attack, Belfast was attempting to go festive for the five hours between the outgoing and homecoming marches.

In a further rebranding of the day now dubbed ‘Orangefest’ a full programme of festivities got underway, including roving street entertainers, hourly performance shows at four locations including CastleCourt and Cornmarket and a U105 radio roadshow close to the route of the demonstration.

Belfast City Centre Manager Andrew Irvine, said: “This setting provides an ideal environment for the city’s retailers to open their business and enjoy high levels of footfall.

>>Video coverage of the Twelfth: Click here

>>Were you at the parades? Click here and send us your pics

“While this is the first time that Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce has asked its members to open for business on the Twelfth, some 80% of city centre retailers have committed to opening.

“I believe there is something for everyone and all the ingredients for a great family day-out.”

And while still steeped in history and tradition, Orange institution leaders welcomed the move away from a shut-up city centre on their ‘big day’ — a day late this year with the 12th falling on Sunday.

Senior Orange leader Tom Haire, Chair of Belfast Orangefest, said: “The Orange Institution in Belfast is pleased to support the opening of the city retailers, especially in the present economic climate.”

Outside the city, three ‘flagship' events marking the 1690 Battle of the Boyne were being held in Banbridge, Bangor and Larne.

Orange Order leaders were mounting a stout defence of the institution with the annual Twelfth parades under way.

Tens of thousands of people were attending the celebrations across the province.

Marchers from the Orange Order were being joined by spectators at a total of eighteen demonstrations.

While it has been under increased criticism from republican politicians, with deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness yesterday reiterating that the Order could do more to contribute towards stabilising the peace process, the response in platform speeches today from Orange leaders was “you must learn to respect us”.

Grand Master Robert Saulters said: “Our halls are under constant attack by petrol and paint bombs (yet) we are in a peace process, I would say we are more into a situation of ethnic cleansing.”

Speaking in Ballymoney Mr Saulters, unable to march after a recent fall, again insisted he has no plans to meet Sinn Fein in the forseeable future.

And at one of the flagship events in Banbridge, Grand Secretary Drew Nelson said nationalist and republican descriptions of the Order as sectarian and deeply divisive were “deeply offensive — and meant to be”.

They had come at a time when the Order was reaching out to the nationalist community “as never before” meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland, the SDLP and the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

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71 Comments

love the 12th July best day of the year.

Posted by jay | 07.08.09, 18:22 GMT

Having walked on our first 12th July celebrations in Portadown & Armagh as part of an accordian band, I would like to say how much my fellow members and myself enjoyed our day. We also went to Scarva to watch the parade etc and found there to be a carnival atmosphere. Although very tired having walked on our own 12th July celebrations on Saturday 11th, Church parade on Sunday 12th as well, we all enjoyed ourselves a great deal and are looking forward to the next time we will be able to attend.

Posted by leanne | 15.07.09, 10:06 GMT

Nothing to celebrate but murder, hatred, RUC oppression and the Belfast Telegraph's love of banal stories of cute wee Ulster and its potato chips and fries.

BT, hang your heads in shame.

Posted by Mr. | 14.07.09, 10:40 GMT

For the record the Times (of London) online lists the 12th "celebrations" in NI as the 11th item under their "UK NEWS" spot today.

Posted by Patrick | 14.07.09, 07:02 GMT

London -guy, you really do need to read a book or two.

Ireland was FORCED into the so called UK Union of 1801.

What exactly IS the Prot. cause ?

Henry 8th died a CATHOLIC. He wished to control the clergy HIMSELF rather than have Rome control them. Politics and money - as ever.

The POPE offered Mass in thanksgiving for Williams win at the Boyne (look it up !!)

Most of Ireland (the Republic) has lived in peace and harmony since the mischief maker (England) was thrown out.

Posted by Evergreen | 14.07.09, 06:44 GMT

As for the Grandmaster's statement, why don't you take off your hate filled, green tinted, political goggles and you'll understand that he speaks of 'Ireland' as a geographical term and not a political term.Strangely enough if he had said his oraganisation held the biggest music festival in the 'British Isles', it would have included The Republic Of Ireland iwhich happens to be a part of this geographical term.He also happens to represent orangemen and women on both sides of the border.

Posted by David Smart | 14.07.09, 02:28 GMT

Well once again we have the usual thicky brigade on here knocking our Protestant, Unionist, and loyalist culture and airing views which are quite frankly, from sad little indivduals.This was our day,so just let us enjoy it,after all, we fought two world wars and numerous other conflicts for the freedom to express our religious beliefs.If you don't like it,then tough titty, because we are here to stay.So take your pro left wing views and bore someone else who really cares.

Posted by David Smart | 14.07.09, 01:59 GMT

I've been in Australia 38 years and from this distance things haven't really changed that much.

It's not religion, it's not politics. It's the 'haves' versus the 'have nots'. The 'haves' keep on stoking it to stop the 'have nots' getting to what the 'haves' have.

When will the working class ever learn!

Posted by brendan | 14.07.09, 01:12 GMT

I am an Australian, of Irish decent and very proud of my Irish heritage. I was raised a Catholic but converted protestant. Like many people overseas I shake my head in disbelief that the Belfast community still tolerates sectarianism of any kind. I can't understand how these celebrations have not morphed into some means of bringing your various communities together. Some how or other Twelfth has got to become a celebration of Belfast to be enjoyed by everyone. God bless you all.

Posted by John Ryan | 14.07.09, 01:11 GMT

I think the people in ulster should spend more time reading and less time breeding! You only have to watch the knuckle draggers following these bands and their equally ape-like opponents with their holier than thou t-shirts, to see that the thickos and their "dumbed down", views of the world are taking over! Integration is the solution along with compulsorary foreign exchange trips! Let the wee bigots see what the real world looks like! As for loyalty to her majesty or Rome, I bow to no-one!

Posted by davy | 14.07.09, 01:00 GMT

You lot are are load of biggots the belfast telegraph should not even print some of the comments on here i went to my hometown of belfast to watch the parade in the afternoon and it was fantastic the rain was coming down heavy but as the saying goes a real orangeman will walk in rain hail or snow and the bands were great what a great day .And as for ardoyne - were the guns not supposed to be destroyed so how come children found a rifle how come a shot was fired

Posted by wilma | 14.07.09, 00:59 GMT

Half a million people out enjoying themselves today, and a handful of Republicans with access to a PC want to hate them with all their might. Still, it's better a PC than the traditional petrol bomb, i suppose!

Posted by Steve | 13.07.09, 22:24 GMT

I don't understand how the parade in Belfast can be described as being 'progressive' when bands taking part in the parade are carrying banners in memory of UVF & UFF killers?

Posted by James | 13.07.09, 22:18 GMT

Ireland has never been united (except under British rule) the 4 provinces have always been run seperately. I can never see a united ireland happening - certainly never one that would show empathy to the protestant cause. Eire itself is a secular state what hope would there be for a million protestants in it ... none !!!

Posted by London-guy | 13.07.09, 22:00 GMT

No offence MS,
but I dont any internet discussion seriously
Internet discussion boards are designed for normal people to laugh at those who take them seriously

Where is my good friend McD today? Must be out marching

Posted by conor | 13.07.09, 21:57 GMT

I have just returned from my parents house in North Belfast, in a mixed area which has been besieged for hours by loyalist youths smashing bottles and making intimidating gestures and giving verbal abuse and threats to residents, of all religions. It was a disgusting display of drunken yobbishness which has ruined the genuine attempts to make the 12th a fun festival. Is this what the 12th means now - threatening people in their homes? Do these people even know the impression they are giving?

Posted by Brian | 13.07.09, 21:52 GMT

when it comes down to it we have parades, and music, and a bit of crack and we won. thats the bottom line. get over it, we're here to stay. roll on 8th august for the big parade!!

Posted by dm | 13.07.09, 21:41 GMT

Ciaran, I'm glad to hear that the Grandmaster described the Orange parade as "the biggest music festival in Ireland", because he acknowledges Ireland as a single entity - which the Dáil firmly denies.
Stuart, I've never attendded a March 17th celebration in any part of Ireland,
but in NYC I marched a few times in the St. Ptk's Parade, accompanied by my Methodist wife and Presbyterian stepson.
I truly hope that Ireland will soon be one nation in which all its citizens live in peace.

Posted by Seán Mac Curtáin | 13.07.09, 21:34 GMT

i heard bands playing tunes that are banned and the loyalist mecca ibrox home to the infamous glasgow rangers, what a sick festival this is and guess what it aint over yet, they keep on marching all summer long, i spent a pleasant couple of days along the coast at newcastle and castlewellan and not a red white and blue flag in sight apart from the local orange hall, it was great people living in harmony.

Posted by sean | 13.07.09, 21:16 GMT