Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Belfast Twelfth Parade 2010

The parade to mark the 320th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne will leave Belfast Orange Hall, at Carisle Circus, at 10.00am.

The Miller Memorial Flute band will lead the parade as it makes its way along Clifton Street, Donegal Street, Royal Avenue, Castle Junction, Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall.

A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the City Hall and the parade will then proceed via Donegal Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to Barnetts Demense.

It is expected that 70 bands will take part in the parade.

A service of thanksgiving, starting at 2.30pm, will be conducted by Rev.Dr.Victor Ryan, Imperial and Grand Chaplain. The address and resolution on faith will be given by Rev.Mervyn Gibson, Deputy Grand Chaplain.

The resolutions on loyalty and state will be presented by Thomas Haire, County Grand Master and the guest speaker will be Councillor William Humphrey.

The return parade will begin at 4.15pm.

In the Twelfth booklet, the new Belfast County Grand Master Tom Haire paid tribute to the work of his predecessor Dawson Bailie who had given sterling service over the past 10 years.

Mr Haire said Orangefest, which acted in a supporting role for the County Grand Lodge’s Twelfth Commemoration, had been a big success over the past few years.

“It is good to see the increase in the number of tourists not only turning out to watch the parade but to attend events and exhibitions organized over this period,” he wrote in the Twelfth booklet.

“I hope that whenever they go home they will tell others of their experience and encourage them to visit Northern Ireland and especially Belfast for the Twelfth. It is interesting to note that the Belfast Twelfth draws the largest television audience for a local live broadcast and is now watched around the globe on the BBC Northern Ireland web site.”

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