The Orange Order will be putting on Twelfth of July parades in cities and towns across Northern Ireland this coming Wednesday to mark King William's victory over King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The Co Armagh demonstration – which will be held in Lurgan this year – is now very firmly established as the largest Orange gathering in the world on the day and encompasses the full range of the Orange Family.
A total of 11 District Lodges will be on parade, with 150 Private Lodges and almost 5,000 Brethren; in addition, ladies from the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland will take part, along with a number of Junior Boys and Junior Girls Lodges.
Read more: Times and locations of all Twelfth of July parades taking place across NI
A number of bands are celebrating milestones this year including Drumderg Loyalists Flute Band in Keady, which is marking 100 years since it was formed, and will have extra pride as it steps out with almost 70 members on parade.
Family is an important theme of the Twelfth for many people, none more so than Drumderg bandmaster Paul Elliott and his family from Keady, who will all be on parade this year.
He told Belfast Live: "I've been a member of Drumderg for 38 years and my wife Liza joined the band before we were married and remained in it until our children arrived. She was the first member of the first female colour party of Drumderg band, which was formed in 1923.
"Basically the band has been our life and I've been a member now for 38 years. I started off at 13 as a fluter. My late father originally taught me how to drum as he and his father before him were both drumming instructors.
"Despite being the flute in the band first, I also ended up drumming and became Drumderg's drum instructor."
Paul's father Trevor Elliott was shot dead by the IRA as he walked to his car near the shop where he worked in Keady in April 1983. He is remembered in a memorial garden at Loughgall.
"My father and I were originally involved with the Keady Pipe Band but my passion was always flute bands so after he died I joined up as a lot of my friends were already in it."
This year, Paul, 51, will be joined on the day at the Co Armagh demonstration in Lurgan by his 14-year-old son, Sam while his two daughters Amy, 20, and 19-year-old Jessica are in the colour party.
"It's a very family orientated band and it's something we can do together as a family. So when the band is out, we're all out. This year we've formed an anniversary band, where the current and older band members have joined together to mark our 100th anniversary.
"That means Liza is back so we're all going out together as a family to the eight anniversary parades this season, which is very special. The aim was to walk each parade with over 100 members which we have been able to do so far."
Paul has never missed a Co Armagh Twelfth of July demonstration, from the years he was taken as a baby to joining the band as a teenager.
"It's a very early start from around 6.30am and some organisation the night before in terms of packing up the car for the picnic, shining boots, pressing uniforms and tuning instruments.
"As bandmaster, I have to think not just of myself but also the needs of the whole band and this year with past and current members that's around 120 people.
"We will parade Keady in the morning before travelling to the main county demonstration and again in the evening on our return. We'll then head back to the Orange Hall for a barbeque where friendships will be renewed and we make our crack with each other.
"Then we'll go home and prepare everything again because we're up the next morning of the 13th for the Scarva Sham Fight."
For Sam and his siblings, the decision to carry on the family tradition was entirely their own.
"He would tell you that he had no other choice! I know from growing up and the short time that I knew my father, I wanted to be just like him and do what he did.
"It was a natural progression for Sam too who has been walking with our band since he was two years of age and now like myself, he can play the flute and drum," Paul explained.
The Co Armagh Demonstration can attract upwards of 40,000 spectators. Almost 70 bands will accompany the Lodges and some of the finest pipe, accordion, silver and flute bands in the country will be on parade.
There are always approximately four Scottish bands on parade at the Co Armagh demonstration and as the “County of the Diamond” is well-renowned for the Lambeg Drum, dozens will be accompanying the Lodges, especially if the weather is favourable.
The Co Armagh Twelfth rotates around the District Lodges in an eleven-year cycle and this year it is the turn of Lurgan District LOL No. 6 (at one time known as O’Neill and East District LOL No. 6, after the Barony of that name) to host the celebrations.
Several other district bands are also marking milestones this year including Aghavilly Accordion Band in Armagh, which is celebrating 65 years on the road, having been formed in 1958.
Mullabrack Accordion Band in Markethill is 40 years on the road in 2023 and finally, Crozier Memorial Pipe Band from Cavanapole in Killylea is celebrating 75 years.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
