NI marches pass off peacefully

A loyal order parade past the flashpoint Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, the scene of four days of violence over the Twelfth …

A loyal order parade past the flashpoint Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, the scene of four days of violence over the Twelfth of July period, passed off peacefully yesterday.

A small number of nationalist residents staged a protest as the feeder parade of 80 bandsmen and Royal Black Preceptory members went by the shops.

Yesterday was the last major day of the loyalist marching season, with more than 15,000 members of the preceptories parading in various parts of Northern Ireland.

The biggest parade was in Newcastle, Co Down where more than 100 preceptories and 100 bands participated.

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There were also parades in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim; Ballymena, Co Antrim; Kilrea, Co Derry; Loughgall, Co Armagh and Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone.

Resolutions were read out after each parade on the members’ Christian faith and their loyalty to the British monarch, while soldiers in the British army were commended for their service in Afghanistan and other countries.

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times