THE Orange Order is planning to hold one of its main Twelfth parades through a majority nationalist town in Co Antrim.
Ballycastle has been selected as a venue for one of 18 main parades to mark the Twelfth of July celebrations.
Located in the heart of the Glens of Antrim, the picturesque seaside town has been the centre of a parades dispute in the past.
The order has also revealed plans to host a massive parade through Portadown in Co Armagh.
Both it and a similar march in Kilkeel in Co Down have been given `flagship' status and are expected to be among the best attended parades held across the north.
Tensions in the Co Armagh town have been high in the past after nationalists opposed Orange Order parades passing along the nationalist Garvaghy Road.
Portadown District Master Darryl Hewitt said the Portadown parade will be largest in the world on the Twelfth.
"The Twelfth in Portadown will be the largest gathering anywhere in the world and we look forward to welcoming the thousands of Orangemen, Orangewomen, juniors, bandsmen and spectators to what we believe will be a truly memorable occasion," he said.
DUP economy minister Simon Hamilton has backed the Orange Order's plans.
"I welcome the announcement by the Orange Institution that Portadown and Kilkeel have been named as this year's Twelfth tourist flagships," he said.
"With a programme of events alongside the traditional demonstration the flagship programme offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the culture, music and pageantry of the day."
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The 18 demonstrations on Tuesday July 12 will take place in:
Portadown
Kilkeel
Belfast
Maguiresbridge
Limavady
Castledawson
Coagh
Newtownstewart
Aughnacloy
Randalstown
Glenarm
Ballymena
Ahoghill
Lisburn
Ballycastle
Donaghadee
Comber
Dromore
A Twelfth demonstration will also be held in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, on Saturday July 9.
