PREPARATIONS are continuing for Friday’s Twelfth of July parade in Ballynahinch.
Thousands of Orangemen from across the district will be joined by brethren from Mourne at the event in the market town with the parade one of 19 taking place at venues across the province to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
Brethren from the Castlewellan, Lecale, Saintfield and Comber districts will join those from the host Ballynahinch No 17 district.
Over 6,000 members of the Orange Institution and approximately 70 bands will be in Ballynahinch, with thousands of spectators lining the streets.
Officers and members of Ballynahinch District No 17 are looking forward to hosting brethren, sisters and bands from neighbouring districts as the Twelfth returns to the market town for the first time since 2017.
A series of events have also been planned in the lead up to the main demonstration and include a church service this Sunday in Ballynahinch Congregational Church with the local district and accompanying bands parading from the War Memorial where they will meet up for a 3pm start.
Friday’s parade — marking the 334th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne — moves off from the assembly area at the Moss Road at noon.
Forty five minutes earlier, the Ballynahinch lodges leave the town’s Orange Hall at 11.15am and parade through the town to meet with visiting districts.
The main parade route is via Belfast Road, Main Street, High Street, Church Street, Church Road, Spa Road and into the district demonstration field at Woodlodge Park, with platform proceedings commencing at 2.15 pm.
Ballynahinch’s pre-Twelfth events continue this evening with a talk in the town’s Orange Hall at 8pm.
Delivered by Dr Jonathan Mattison, Curator of The Museum of Orange Heritage, it will focus on the 'The Importance and Legacy of the Glorious Revolution’.
“This is a fascinating period of history which would shape the future not only in the British Isles, but ultimately places like the United States of America,” said Dr Mattison ahead of tonight’s meeting.
“The many benefits delivered by the Glorious Revolution include the Bill of Rights, freedom of the press, a modern banking system, independent judiciary and the establishment of a parliamentary democracy.
“It served to signal the victory of Liberty over tyranny and is central to why the Orange family celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.”
Dr Mattison added: “The War in Ireland would effectively cement the political and monarchical change that had occurred in London and helped herald a shift in the balance of power away from autocratic rulers and in favour of the people, through Parliament.”
In conjunction with tonight’s talk, an exhibition including Orange memorabilia will also be on display.
The Service and Sacrifice exhibition explores the contribution made by Orangemen and women during the Second World War.
Organisers say from the evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940, conflict on the high seas and combat in theatres across the world, Orangemen and women were to the fore, with the to highlighting this service and sacrifice in defence of freedom.
The exhibition will also be open tomorrow between 1pm and 5pm in Ballynahinch Orange Hall.