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The Twelfth - Routes, Times and Traffic Info

Orangemen parading in Belfast last year 
Orangemen parading in Belfast last year 

Eighteen demonstrations are to be held across Northern Ireland on Monday July 13. 

Belfast

The Belfast parade begins at 9.45am as County Grand Lodge officers and the Millar Memorial Flute Band leave Belfast Orange Hall and take up position at Carisle Circus.

At 10am the main parade will commence along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue, Castle Junction and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall. 

A wreath laying ceremony will then take place at the Cenotaph at city Hall.

At around 10.40am, Orangemen accompanied by approximately 60 bands will proceed via Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftesbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to the demonstration field at Barnett Demesne.

Platform proceedings are expected to begin at 2.45pm. The parade is due to leave the field and proceed towards Belfast city centre at 4.15pm.

On Monday morning and evening there will be a number of subsidiary parades around the city that will require temporary traffic restrictions to be put in place in the Middlepath Street area of East Belfast and the Woodvale area of North Belfast. Motorists are advised this will be from around 2pm and that alternative routes are available..

County Antrim

Antrim Town

The Antrim parade will feature approximately 70 private lodges with 8,000 members and around 60 marching bands.

The main parade is expected to begin at 11am from Fountain Hill and will then proceed through the town via Fountain Street, Church Street, High Street, Bridge Street, Dublin Road, Randalstown Road and Castle Road before finishing at the demonstration field. 

Ballymena

Thirty lodges and 15 bands are expected to take part in the Ballymena parade.

The bands and Orangemen will assemble at Waveney Road car park at 12.30pm before the parade proceeds through the town via Galgorm Road, Pentagon, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Ballymoney Street, William Street, Broughshane Street, Broadway, Church Street, Bridge Street, Harryville Bridge, Salisbury Square, Larne Street, Larne Road, Wakehurst Road and Antrim Road to the demonstration field at Ballee Road West.

Motorists are advised to expect delays until early afternoon.

Broughshane

Eleven lodges and nine bands will take part in one of the smallest demonstrations of the day.

The main parade is scheduled to start at noon with those involved proceeding from the assembly point on the Tullymore Road thorugh the village of Beechvale before returning to the local community centre for a religious service. 

Motorists that are not involved in the parade are advised to avoid the village from 12 noon until 6pm.

Bushmills

Up to 50 lodges could take part in the Bushmills demonstration with around 30 bands.

The main parade will begin at the Castlecatt Road at 1pm before taking the short route through the village to the Whitepark Road demonstration field where a religious service will be held. 

Motorists should be awared that the village will be closed to through traffic from approximately 1pm to 6pm.

Derriaghy

Orangemen from around 70 lodges are expected to accompany 40 bands in the Derriaghy parade.

The main parade will move off from Queensway at 11.30am, and proceed through Derriaghy and Dunmurry, before turning into Lower Dunmurry Lane to the demonstration field at Fullerton Park.

Non parade traffic are advised to expect delays.

Portglenone

The Portglenone parade, featuring sixteen lodges, will take place across both County Antrim and County Derry. 

The main parade will commence at 12.30pm on the Cullybackey Road, with lodges and bands proceeding through the village to the demonstration field on the Clady Road.

Motorists intending to use the A42 Clady Road should avoid the area during the afternoon.

County Armagh

Bessbrook 

The small County Armagh village of Bessbrook will host this year's flagship Twelfth demonstration.

It will be the largest demonstration in Northern Ireland on the day and could attract around 15,000 spectators. Around 154 lodges will be accompanied by approximately 80 bands during the parade.

The lodges of the host district are to gather at Bessbrook Orange Hall at 8am before proceeding to the Kingsmills memorial in the village for a short memorial service. 

From there the parade will proceed to Millvale Road to await the arrival of visiting districts from 9.30am. The main parade is expected to commence at 9.45am. 

The main parade will progress from the Millvale Road via McKnights Hill, Derrymore Road, Fountain Street, College Square, and Main Street to the demonstration field at Maytown Road.

A religious service will then be held in the demonstration field at 1.45pm. The return parade is expected to leave the field at 3pm.

There will be diversions in place on the following roads:

From 8.30am to 9.10am diversions will be in place at Main Street, Fountain Street, College Square West, North and East, Main Street and Millvale Road.

From 9.30am to 1.30pm diversions will be in place at McKnight’s Hill, Derrymore Road, Boiler Hill, Fountain Street, Wakefield Terrace, Fountain Street, College Square West, North and East, Main Street and Maytown Road to the field.

From 3pm to 6pm diversions will be in place at Maytown Road, Millvale Road and the parade will disperse at Millvale Road/Doctors Hill.

Due to heavy parade traffic, other road users travelling to Newry or Armagh should avoid the A28 Armagh Road and use an alternative route. 

County Derry

Coleraine

More than 60 lodges are expected to assemble at Killowen Street in Coleraine before the beginning of the parade at 11.30am.

Around 50 bands will head off through the town, via Waterside, Old Bridge, Circular Road, Queen Street, Church Street, New Row, Dunmore Street, Blindgate Street, Beresford Road, Brook Street, Bushmills Road,The Crescent and Ballycastle Road to the demonstration field at the Showgrounds.

A religious service will then be held at the demonstration field.

Motorists in the town are advised to expect diversions and delays throughout the day.

Moneymore

Around 60 lodges and 50 bands will take part in the Moneymore demonstration. 

Those taking part in the parade are to assemble at Fairhill before the main parade begins at 11am, via Lawford Street, High Street, Stonard Street and Bridger Street before proceeding to the demonstration field on the Moneyhall Road.

Platform proceedings are expected to begin at 2pm and the return parade is to commence at 3.45pm. 

Non parade traffic is advised to avoid the area and to plan an alternate route. 

County Down

Ballymartin

Fifteen lodges will be represented at this demonstration in the south Down village. 

Lodges from Kilkeel are to leave Kilkeel Orange Hall at 10.45am and to parade for several miles to Pats Road near Ballymartin. There they will meet the rest of the District and parade through the village to the demonstration field.

Platform proceedings are expected to commence at 2.30pm and the return parade is to begin at 4pm.

Traffic on the A2 Coast Road are advised to seek alternative routes between Kilkeel and Annalong from 9:30am to 6pm or to expect diversions and delays.

Holywood

Up to 50 lodges and 50 bands are expected to take part in the Holywood demonstration. 

The parade is to being at Redburn Square at noon. It will then proceed via Sullivan Place, High Street, Abbey Ring, Abbots Wood, Demesne Road, Downshire Road, Main Street and Belfast Road to the demonstration field at Ballymenoch Park.

The return parade is expected to leave Ballymenoch Park at 4.15pm.

The route includes part of the A2 Bangor Road and motorists are advised to expect delays.

Laurencetown

Around 80 bands and 100 lodges are to take part in the Laurencetown parade, with upwards of 20,000 spectators expected to attend.

The parade will set off from the assembly field on the Huntly Road at 12 noon and proceed via the Lurgan Road to the demonstration field on the Gilford Road, near Laurencetown Orange Hall.

A religious service will be held at 2.30pm and the return parade is to commence at 3.45pm.

Non parade traffic is advised to use alternative routes.

Saintfield

The Saintfield parade, featuring around 40 bands and 70 lodges, is to be begin at 12.30pm from the Old Belfast Road, through the village to the demonstration field at Station Road.

The parade is to cross the A7 Carryduff to Downpatrick Road. Non parade traffic should expect delays.

County Fermanagh

Kesh 

Ninety lodges and 70 bands are to take place in the Fermanagh Twelfth demonstration. 

At 12.30pm, all lodges and bands are to proceed from the Ederney Road assembly field via Station Road, Main Street, Rosscolban Avenue and Mantlin Road to the demonstration field.

A religious service is expected to take place in the field at 2.30pm.

The village will be closed to traffic at 10.45am and is expected to reopen at 6pm. A local diverstion will be put in place around the area.

Traffic travelling from Co. Donegal and Belleek is advised use the A46 Lough Shore Road approaching Enniskillen from the Garrison / Belleek side.

County Tyrone

Benburb

The largest Twelfth demonstration in Tyrone is to feature 70 lodges and more than 50 bands.

The main parade is to commence at 12.30pm from the assembly field at Derryfubble Road proceeding the short route via the Main Street and Confeacle Road to the demonstration field. Platform proceedings are due to commence at 2.30pm.

Non parade traffic is advised to avoid the general Benburb area.

Fintona

Over 5,000 people are expected to take part in the Fintona demonstration.

Parade participants will assemble at Ecclesville Park, departing at 12.30pm, and proceeding through the village via Killen Street, Fairgreen Road, Tattymoyle Road, Main Street, Back Lane, Castle Street, Church Street, Mill Street, Craigavon Road, Tattyreagh Road and Ecclesville Road, returning to the park for the religious service.

Non parade traffic is advised to avoid the area.

Fivemiletown

Around 25 lodges and 25 bands are to take part in the Fivemiletown demonstration.

The main procession will commence from St John’s Hall on the Murley Road at 12.15pm, proceeding via Main Street and Colebrooke Road to the Fivemiletown College Grounds for a religious service. Platfrom proceedings are expected to begin at 2.15pm.

The village will be closed to through traffic from 12.15pm until 5pm.

Enniskillen to Belfast bound traffic will divert via Tempo, Clabby and Clogher.

Belfast to Enniskillen bound traffic will be diverted at Ballygawley Roundabout via the A5 to Omagh, then the A32 through Dromore and Irvinestown to Enniskillen (long diversion due to another parade in Fintona).

Large vehicles intending to travel from Enniskillen towards Dungannon should consider avoiding the A4 and use the A32 to Omagh and A5 to Ballygawley Roundabout.