Details on the BBC's coverage of the Twelfth of July parades have been released after the announcement it was axing its live coverage.
Earlier this month it was confirmed the live coverage of the Belfast parade, which has been televised by the BBC for decades, was being axed. The Orange Order said the decision "defies logic" and said it was "hard to accept this as anything other than a further snub to the wider Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist Community and our culture".
On Thursday, BBC Northern Ireland released details on its planned coverage which will be an hour-long television special of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland’s Twelfth of July demonstrations.
READ MORE: Twelfth of July: Full list of parades taking place across Northern Ireland
It says the show will relive the sights, sounds and spectacle from across eight regional locations, including the Belfast parade. The Twelfth 2022, on BBC One NI and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Tuesday, July 12, will bring audiences the marching bands, music and pageantry from the day’s demonstrations, as BBC film crews capture the action from each of the six counties of Northern Ireland.
The programme will be presented by Helen Mark from the site of the Battle of the Boyne, with commentary from Mervyn Jess and Dr David Hume. A key focus this year will be the North Londonderry demonstrations in Limavady, where the lodges and bands of Limavady will be joined by the City of Londonderry Grand Lodge and neighbouring districts of Coleraine and Macosquin.
And as Belfast districts join together once again for the traditional Belfast Parade, BBC Northern Ireland will bring viewers the action as it makes its way through the city centre to Barnett’s Demesne and capture the wreath-laying ceremony at the Belfast City Hall Cenotaph.
In a statement, they added: "Going further afield than ever before, BBC Northern Ireland will also give audiences the opportunity to experience the action from the demonstrations in: Bushmills, Co Antrim; Armagh City, Co Armagh; Greyabbey, Co Down; Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, and Castlecaulfield, Co Tyrone.
"The programme will also feature highlights from the traditional Rossnowlagh parade, which takes place in Donegal on Saturday, 9 July, as well as packages on the Glenanne Glen Restoration Project in Armagh; The Resolute People Exhibition at the Orange Order Museum in Belfast, and exhibits at the Orange Heritage Centre. Limavady.
"BBC News Northern Ireland, meanwhile, will provide news coverage of the Twelfth of July demonstrations throughout the day on BBC Newsline, BBC Radio Ulster and on the BBC News Northern Ireland website.
"Complementing the Twelfth 2022 special is the BBC Northern Ireland website bbc.co.uk/twelfth, which will point audiences to a range of programming exploring the Orange traditions, culture and community available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds."
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