Wednesday will see the annual Twelfth of July parades roll in to towns and villages across Co Fermanagh, with parades being held across the length and breadth of the county.
The Twelfth parades mark the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne, north of Dublin, in 1690 - a triumph that secured a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown
The main County Fermanagh Twelfth of July demonstration will take place in Ballinamallard this year.
Read more: The reason why people march to mark The Twelfth of July in NI
Large crowds are expected to be in attendance, including many tourists and visitors to the Lakeland county, for what is always a wonderful Twelfth of July celebration.
The Fermanagh parade traditionally encompasses the entire county with Brethren taking part from Newtownbutler, Lisbellaw, Brookeborough, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, Ballinamallard, Kinawley, Glenawley, Lisnarick, Pettigo, Magheraboy, Church Hill, Maguiresbridge, Garrison and Tempo districts.
The Sisters of Women’s Districts 1, 2 and 3, Junior Lodges from South Fermanagh, Brookeborough, Maguiresbridge, Ballinamallard and South Fermanagh Junior Girls Lodge will also be on parade.
Ballinamallard will also play host to visiting lodges from the Republic of Ireland, representing Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan and their bands.
Southern Brethren – who traditionally take pride of place at the front of the main parade – will join with 90 private lodges, members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland and approximately 60 bands in one of the larger demonstrations across the province.
Lodges and bands will move off at 11.45am from the assembly point at Ballinamallard United FC on the Enniskillen Road before proceeding along the approximate one-mile route through the village to the demonstration field on the Makenny Road.
The main proceedings will commence at 2pm, where the guest speaker will be Wor. Bro. Rev. Abraham Storey, County Grand Chaplain of Co. Cavan Grand Orange Lodge.
Music for Platform proceedings will be provided by Tempo Silver Band. There will also be entertainment for children at both the assembly and demonstration points. The return parade is due to begin at approximately 2.45pm.
Ballinamallard last hosted the Twelfth of July celebrations in 2013. This year Garrison District will parade their new banner, while Garrison Band have recently obtained new uniforms.
2023 is an important year in the history of Teemore Accordion Band as it marks their 50th anniversary.
Here’s a list of all of the parades happening in Co Fermanagh on Wednesday according to information from the Parades Commission:
- Church Hill District LOL No 12 - Derrygonnelly 9:30
- Enniskillen Fusiliers Flute Band - Enniskillen 9:45
- Enniskillen DLOL No.5 - Enniskillen 9:30
- Lisbellaw District LOL No 2 - Lisbellaw 9:45
- Ballinamallard District LOL No6 - Ballinamallard 10:15
- Dromard LOL 284 - Kesh 9:00
- Ardess LOL 522 - Kesh 18:00
- Maguiresbridge District LOL No 14 - Maguiresbridge 9:30
- Glenawley District LOL 8 - Enniskillen 16:00
- Lisnaskea District LOL No 4 - Lisnaskea 9:40
- Inver Orange Lodge - Rosslea 18:00
- Tempo District LOL 387 and LOL 2024 - Tempo 9:30
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