ORANGE ORDER leaders, police and politicians are hoping that as thousands of Orangemen prepare to march at numerous parades in Northern Ireland today, there will be a marked lessening of tensions at and around all events from previous years.
First Minister Peter Robinson helped to get the Twelfth of July events under way in Belfast by attending an Eleventh Night “Orangefest” cultural reception in east Belfast last night.
Shortly before the traditional Eleventh Night bonfires were lit around Northern Ireland last night, Mr Robinson joined a number of senior Orangemen, community leaders, Lambeg drummers and musicians in the Park Avenue Hotel for the pre-Twelfth gathering.
Last year was one of the most peaceful Twelfths of recent decades, with the most contentious parade – the return of Orangemen past the Ardoyne shops on the Twelfth night – concluding without serious incident.
There is an expectation that tonight’s return parade will conclude in similar fashion following recent agreement at local level between Orangemen and nationalist groups.
The chairman of the Parades Commission Roger Poole has acknowledged the improving atmosphere and called on everyone to ensure the Twelfth is calm and trouble-free. He said dialogue remained the way forward.
“The commission urges all of those taking part in the Twelfth this weekend to ensure that all marches pass off peacefully and without incident. This is vital if this year’s successful local engagement is to continue and be replicated elsewhere,” he said.
The PSNI said it was hopeful that this Twelfth and the rest of the marching season would be peaceful. The Orange Order has been attempting to place greater focus on the cultural nature of the parades, and also wants to develop the tourist and commercial potential of the Twelfth.
This has resulted in some general success. Normally on the Twelfth city and town centres close down, but this year it is expected that some stores and shopping centres will stay open.
There will be 18 Orange Order Twelfth parades today, plus a parade by the Independent Orange Order of which former first minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, is a member. The Order has designated four of the events as flagship parades – in Belfast, Tandragee, Co Armagh, Dromara, Co Down and Coleraine, Co Derry.
These parades are receiving special promotional support from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland, explained Dr David Hume, the Order’s director of services.
“We know that nearly half a million people enjoy the Twelfth and there is hard evidence that more and more tourists are planning trips to Northern Ireland at that time, to coincide with the parades,” Dr Hume said.
