Northern Ireland

AOH to mark Feast of the Assumption in Carnlough

Members of the Antrim County Board pictured with a new bannerette at Drumraymond AOH hall outside Toome yesterday. Picture By Hugh Russell.
Members of the Antrim County Board pictured with a new bannerette at Drumraymond AOH hall outside Toome yesterday. Picture By Hugh Russell. Members of the Antrim County Board pictured with a new bannerette at Drumraymond AOH hall outside Toome yesterday. Picture By Hugh Russell.
By Connla Young

THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s annual parade to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption this weekend.

The Co Antrim seaside village of Carnlough will host this year’s parade on Sunday for the first time in around a decade.

Members of the AOH from across Ireland and part of Britain and America are expected to take part in the parade which is also expected to attract hundreds of spectators to the seaside town.

Organised into divisions, its members take part in annual parades on St Patrick’s Day and mark the Feast of the Assumption which falls on August 15.

The order’s Co Antrim Board will unveil its new bannerette at the parade, which will be blessed by Fr Pat McCafferty.

National President Jim Crossan is expected to give an address to the crowd.

Co Antrim president James McMullan spoke of the importance of the parade in the AOH calendar.

“It is the main day for celebration, it’s the most religious day in the calendar for the AOH,” he said.

“We would expect to get a good turn out and between 15-22 bands.”

Mr McMullan thanked everyone who has helped organise the parade.

“We would like to thank all the people who have helped to get us this far, the police, the council and our parish priest for letting us use the car park.”