The head of the Orange Order has hailed the return of full Twelfth of July demonstrations in Northern Ireland as a “tremendous success”.
Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said the day had been extra special as traditional celebrations were disrupted in the last two years due to Covid.
Hundreds of parades accompanied by loyalist marching bands took place in cities, towns and villages across the region.
Police said it had been one of the safest and most peaceful Twelfth of July events in recent memory.
It came after the parades were cancelled in 2020 to comply with lockdown, and took place on a smaller scale in 2021 before returning to full volume on Tuesday.
Mr Stevenson joined festivities in Bushmills.
He said: “The 332nd anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne will be remembered as a perfect day for the return of our traditional parades after a gap of three years due to Covid-19 and for the extraordinary numbers of people celebrating the largest annual festival in Northern Ireland.
“There was a real sense of occasion as tens of thousands of our members, accompanying bands and spectators revelled in the pageantry and spectacle of the Twelfth celebrations at 18 different venues across the Province.
“This year really was extra special. Our last traditional celebrations were in 2019 and following two years of alternative celebrations in 2020 and 2021, this year’s Twelfth parades were a tremendous success.
“I was delighted to be part of the celebrations in County Antrim, participating in the parade at Bushmills, and have received lots of positive feedback from around the other parades which took place today.
“I trust everyone involved – participants, supporters, onlookers and traders – had a wonderful day; and we look forward to doing it all over again next year.”
Mr Stevenson praised Orange Order members and bands for stepping up during the pandemic, and said they “worked tirelessly to distribute much-needed supplies to those much at risk in our communities”.
“We stepped up again recently when the plight of the people of Ukraine following invasion by Russia became clear. Our people rallied round and collected tonnes of essential products which were shipped out to those most in need,” he said.
“These are two examples on a major scale in which the Orange family has shown that it is an essential part of community life. We have a role to play and we are determined to play it to the full.
“I challenge you all here today to be proactive ambassadors for the Orange Institution in this area and do all you can to encourage family and friends to join our ranks.”
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton, said: “Today, in what is one of the busiest days of the year for policing in Northern Ireland, the police service had over 2,500 police officers and staff working with local communities and partners to facilitate almost 600 parades.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved for their help in making this one of the safest and most peaceful 12th July events in recent memory.”
There were eight arrests and police are also investigating a small number of potential breaches of Parades Commission determinations.
Speaking earlier in Belfast, County Grand Master Spencer Beattie said around 10,000 order members and bandsmen and women were expected to take part in the city demonstration.
“In 2020 we were cancelled because of Covid, so this is the first time back on the street in our full parade,” he told the PA news agency.
“We’ve had various smaller parades over the last couple of years, reduced down because of Covid, but it’s great to be back in full swing again. Hopefully, the day will be a celebration for everybody getting back out on to the street and enjoying the day.”
The Belfast parade is one of the longer routes, passing through the city from Clifton Street, laying a wreath at the cenotaph at City Hall and progressing on to the demonstration field at Barnett Demesne.
“It’s just great to get everyone back out again. You’ll have noticed from the number of bonfires that were about last night that everybody is coming back into the spirit of the Twelfth of July again,” Mr Beattie said.
“It’s immeasurable how many spectators you have at the side of the road; that’s where you see the tourist part of it, in the city centre.
“People are just happy to be getting back into a traditional Twelfth of July. We understood the reasons why we had to reduce the size of the parade – we had to keep people at home in 2020 – last year we reduced and spread about the city to reduce the crowds.
“But now we have got the full parade back on the road, people are out with smiles and enjoying themselves.”
On Monday night around 250 bonfires were lit in loyalist communities across the region to usher in the main date in the parading calendar.
Police said they were gathering evidence after complaints about election posters and effigies being put on bonfires.
The Twelfth parades, which are organised by the Orange Order, commemorate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown.
Thousands of Orange lodge members parade through the summer months to mark William’s victory and other key dates in Protestant/unionist/loyalist culture.
Those celebrations culminate on the Twelfth – the anniversary of the Boyne encounter.
The routes of certain Orange parades became intense friction points during the Troubles, often leading to widespread rioting and violence.
The disputes usually centred on whether or not Orange lodges should be entitled to parade through nationalist areas.
While Orangemen insisted they had the right to parade on public roads following long-established traditional routes, nationalist residents protested at what they characterised as displays of sectarian triumphalism passing through their neighbourhoods.
The number of flashpoints has reduced significantly in the peace process years.
The build-up to this year’s Twelfth has been low key and lacking the levels of tension and rancour associated with previous years.
On July 12, there are 573 loyal order parades. Of these, 33 follow routes that are deemed to be sensitive.
