Thousands of Catholic protesters gathered along Garvaghy Road on Sunday, 27 September 2026, to block members of the Orange Order from passing through. It was the first time in nearly 30 years that the order, a Protestant unionist organisation, was permitted to march along that route. However, the parade was eventually stopped by police, reviving one of the most infamous sectarian disputes in Northern Ireland.
Even Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill joined the protest. 'I have spent the night on the Garvaghy Road in support of the community,' she told social media. 'There should be no unwanted Orange March forced through the heart of this community.'
