Thousands of members of the Orange Order are set to march on the Twelfth
Dundonald will have the honour of hosting a Twelfth demonstration for the first time in more than 50 years as it has been named among the venues for this year’s Twelfth of July celebrations.
The village will join 18 other venues across Northern Ireland including Belfast, Ballymena, Kesh, Coleraine and Keady in hosting processions to mark the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
Preparations are at an advanced stage for the biggest day in the parading calendar, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to participate or spectate in what is rightly regarded as one of the largest annual festivals in Europe.
Thousands of Orangemen, women and juniors – accompanied by approximately 600 marching bands of all genres will be on parade at the various locations and will provide a unique display of pageantry, colour and heritage.
The County Down demonstrations will take place in Dundonald, Dromara, Dundrum, and Kilkeel.
The County Armagh demonstration – which will be held in the village of Keady this year – is firmly established as the largest Orange gathering in the world.
Belfast hosts the longest Twelfth parade on the day, with participants walking over six miles to the field. As always, a large contingent of Scottish visitors will travel to take part in the Belfast parade.
The capital city and Ballymena are the only two venues where Twelfth demonstrations occur every year.
Other sizeable parades will take place in Kesh (Fermanagh), Coleraine (Londonderry), Coagh (Tyrone) and Dromara (Down).
(Photo by Jim Masson/DownNews©)
Grand Master, Edward Stevenson has once again put in focus the significance of Orange culture and traditions, which is underlined by the scale of the parades. He said: “Our Twelfth of July celebrations are an event like no other.
“Across the 18 venues, we will have tens of thousands of our members – men, women and young people taking part in a community tradition which has been faithfully maintained for well over 200 years.
“Many thousands more will line the streets of host cities, towns and villages. There is simply no other local event which can bring such vast numbers of people onto the streets, either by taking part or by enjoying the day as a spectator.
“With the continuing growth of the Junior Orange movement we can say with confidence that this is a tradition that will continue to be upheld for many years to come.”
Most Wor. Bro. Stevenson will, for the first time, visit the County Fermanagh celebrations which are to be held at Kesh.
The senior Orangeman added: “Once again we anticipate a high number of international visitors to join our celebrations, many who are keen to experience first-hand the spectacle of ‘The Twelfth.’
“Our parades are undoubtedly an impressive spectacle, with the high calibre of music provided by some of the finest marching bands in the country playing a big part in the festival atmosphere.
“As the big day approaches, it is safe to say the entire Orange Family is really looking forward to another glorious Twelfth.”
The 18 demonstrations on Saturday, 12th July 2025, will be held in:
Coagh, Sixmilecross, Augher (Co. Tyrone)
Dundonald, Dromara, Dundrum, Kilkeel (Co. Down)
Ballymena, Cullybackey, Rasharkin, Carnlough, Lisburn, Glengormley (Co. Antrim)
Belfast
Keady (Co. Armagh)
Coleraine, Maghera (Co. Londonderry)
Kesh (Co. Fermanagh)
The Twelfth demonstrations in Northern Ireland will follow the traditional Rossnowlagh parade held in County Donegal on the preceding weekend. This year the annual Donegal procession takes place on Saturday, 5th July.
DUNDONALD
Dundonald Purple Vine LOL 1056 are proudly hosting the 2025 North Down Combine 12th July Celebrations on behalf of Holywood District LOL No 14.
The last time the 12th July Celebrations were held in Dundonald was 1967. At that time, the Demonstration Field was held in what was the old Polo Fields, these fields are now populated by Dundonald High School and we are delighted that the School Governors have kindly allowed us the use of these premises for this year’s Assembly and Demonstration Field.
39 Lodges and 28 bands will begin to parade from Dundonald Playing Fields at 12:15pm, Holywood District LOL No.14 will lead the parade with Dundonald Purple Vine LOL 1056 taking pride of place at the front of the District as host Lodge, followed by Newtownards District LOL No.4, Upper Ards District LOL No.11 and then Bangor District LOL No.18.
The Parade will exit the school grounds onto the Upper Newtownards Road (Country Bound Lanes), turning left onto Robbs Road before joining Church Road, Grahamsbridge Road, Comber Road (Belfast bound), before rejoining the Upper Newtownards Roads (City bound lanes from Ruby’s Bar to East Link Road junction) and Upper Newtownards Road (Country bound lanes Dunlady Road to Dundonald High School). It is envisaged that all Brethren and bands will be back in the Field for 2:00pm.
Platform proceedings will begin at 2:30pm. The platform party will include District Officers from the Combine, Wor. Bro. Joseph Kennaway BCM, Wor. Bro. David Brooks MLA, LOL 747, our two visiting District Mistresses and two members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland.
The Return Parade will commence at 4:30pm, leaving Dundonald High School Playing Pitches turning right onto the Upper Newtownards Road , Robbs Road, Church Road, Grahamsbridge Road, Comber Road. The Parade will officially conclude at the Comber Road / East Link road junction where Holywood District LOL No.14 will split and form a Guard of Honour for the visiting Brethren. The visiting Districts will continue on to their dispersal points after which, Holywood District LOL No.14 will form up again continuing along the Comber Road to Rubys Bar for the playing of the National Anthem thus concluding the festivities.
Dundonald Orange Fest will see a number of pre-Twelfth events prior to the big day, all of which are being held in Moat Park Dundonald:
Sunday, 6th July – Afternoon Praise service
Monday, 7th July – Ulster-Scots Cultural Day
Tuesday, 8th July – Multi Cultural Food Festival
Wednesday, 9th July – Country and Western Music festival
Thursday, 10th July – Battle of the Bands
Friday, 11th July – Lighting of a beacon, children’s event with re-enactment activities.
DUNDRUM
Dundrum will proudly host the annual Battle of the Boyne Celebrations on Saturday, 12th July, with Castlewellan District LOL No. 12 welcoming several thousand participants and spectators for what promises to be a day of tradition, colour and pageantry.
Over 3,000 Orange members, accompanied by 70 bands will take part in this year’s ‘Mid and East Down’ celebrations. Participating Districts will include Lecale District LOL No.2, Saintfield District LOL No.5, Comber District LOL No.15, Ballynahinch District LOL No.17, and host district Castlewellan District LOL No.12.
The parade will leave the assembly point on the Belfast Road at 12:00 noon, making its way along Main Street and Old Road, to the Demonstration field on the Ballyloughlin Road .
The return parade will leave the field at approximately 4:00pm, retracing its steps back to the Belfast Road where the visiting Districts will board their busses.
The Platform proceedings will be chaired by Wor. Bro. Ernie Ritchie, District Master, Castlewellan LOL No. 12 and the religious service will be led by Wor. Bro. Rev. George Speers, District Chaplain.
Roads will close from 11:15am, and in order to minimise disruption and congestion, spectators and participants are encouraged to arrive early. Accessible parking is available at Dundrum Football Pitches (Old Road) for Blue Badge holders only. Public parking in Dundrum village is limited; however ample parking will be available in the demonstration field car park which is accessible by turning off at Clough and then following signposted routes. Diversions will be signposted for traffic from Newcastle and Clough.
There will be fully serviced toilet facilities, including accessible units, these will be located at Main Street, the assembly point, demonstration field, and various points along the parade route. Parade Marshals will be present throughout the day to ensure a safe and enjoyable event.
Organisers are working to minimise disruption and are encouraging local businesses and shops to remain open and benefit from the large crowd. With thousands expected to descend on the area, it’s set to be a memorable and positive day for Dundrum and the surrounding community.
DROMARA
The South-West Down Combine parade will this year be hosted by Lower Iveagh District LOL No.1 in Dromara. The Assembly field will be located on the Banbridge Road, while the Demonstration field will be on the Rathfriland Road, directly facing Dromara Football Club.
At 11:30am, District Officers and Dignitaries will depart from Dromara Orange Hall and parade to the Assembly Point. The main demonstration will then commence at 12:00 noon, featuring approximately 2,500 Brethren and 43 bands on parade. It is expected to take around one hour and forty-five minutes for all participants to reach the Demonstration Field.
Platform proceedings will begin at 2:45pm, chaired by Bro. Baird of the South-West Down Area Committee. The guest speaker will be Wor. Bro. Kyle McIlWrath, Deputy County Grand Master of County Down. Also in attendance will be Wor. Bro. Rev. Victor Neil, County Grand Chaplain, and the service will be conducted by Bro. Samuel Morrison, the District Chaplain of Lower Iveagh.
The return parade will leave the demonstration field at 4:00pm, making its way back to the assembly point.
Seven districts within the South-West Down combine will be represented, Lower Iveagh District LOL No. 1, Rathfriland District LOL No. 3, Banbridge District LOL No. 7, Lower Iveagh West District LOL No. 8, Newry District LOL No. 9, Loughbrickland District LOL No. 10, and Gilford District LOL No. 13.
Leading the demonstration will be Dromara lol 12, proudly accompanied by Waringsford Pipe Band. A number of Ladies’ Lodges and Junior Boys’ Lodges will also be participating, with JLOL 31 taking pride of place at the front of the District.
The demonstration field will feature children’s entertainment, highland dancers from Finnis, and a selection of food vendors. Visitors can also browse stalls offering children’s toys, flags, loyal order memorabilia, and items from a charming artisan village.
Prizes will be awarded for Best Lodge and Band on Parade, Best Lodge with Lambeg Drums, and Best Junior Lodge.
In the lead-up to the Twelfth, several exciting events are planned. To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a military memorabilia exhibition will be held in Dromara Orange Hall on the 13th and 14th of June. A Pre-Twelfth dinner for District Officers is also on the calendar, along with events on the 1st of July to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.
A District Church Service will take place on Sunday, 6th July in Dromore Free Presbyterian Church and on Monday, 7th July, the sound of Lambeg Drums will echo from the top of Slieve Croob. The week will continue with live bands performing in Dromara Village on Wednesday, 9th July, and in Dromore on Thursday 10th July.
KILKEEL
The Mourne District LOL No. 6 Twelfth of July 2025 celebrations will this year be hosted in Kilkeel – the ‘capital’ of the Kingdom of Mourne. With around 1,700 participants on parade, including 15 local bands and more than 3,000 spectators expected to line the streets, this year’s event will be one of the highlights of the summer.
Mourne District LOL No. 6 is proud to be the largest district in the Orange Institution, boasting over 1,100 members. Among its ranks is the largest private lodge in the Order — Ballyvea LOL 343a, which continues to grow with an impressive membership of 162. This year, the honour of leading the District Parade falls to one of the area’s oldest Lodges, Brunswick LOL 1702 from Annalong , while the largest Junior Lodge in the Institution will once again take pride of place at the head of the procession.
The day will begin with Kilkeel Lodges assembling at Kilkeel Orange Hall at 11:00am before stepping off on a 1.5-mile route to Leestone Road on the outskirts of the town. There, they will join with the rest of the Mourne District for the return parade into Kilkeel, which will conclude at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Manse Road.
After the parade, friends, family, and spectators are warmly invited to join the Brethren in the Demonstration Field for a complimentary picnic, generously provided by the Lodges. This family-friendly gathering takes place in one of the most scenic settings imaginable, with the majestic Mourne Mountains providing a stunning backdrop. Platform proceedings will begin at 2:15pm.
The homeward parade will commence at 4:00pm. The Annalong Lodges will return to their village and conclude their day with a local parade, while the Kilkeel Lodges will march through the town, taking in Newry Street, Harbour Road, Harbour Drive, Knockchree Avenue, and Greencastle Street where they will disperse at Kilkeel Orange Hall.
This year’s parade carries added significance, as Bro. Joe McKibbin of LOL 342 marks an extraordinary milestone — 80 years of membership in the Lodge — a remarkable legacy of loyalty and dedication.
Cranfield LOL 907 whose hall overlooks the site of the former Greencastle RAF/USAAF Base No. 237, recently commemorated VE Day with a public exhibition and talk honouring the base’s wartime contributions. Among those remembered was Bro. William J. Mahier RAF, a young Lodge member who tragically lost his life in an accident during the war and is memorialised on the Kilkeel war memorial. The Lodge’s banner proudly features wartime aircraft — a B-25 Mitchell and a Liberator bomber soaring over Cranfield — and the Cranfield Accordion Band pays tribute to this heritage by wearing uniforms inspired by RAF dress.
The platform party this year will feature guest speaker Wor. Bro. Ellis Hanna, alongside the Mourne District Officers. Chairing proceedings will be Worshipful District Master Rt. Wor. Bro. William Baillie, joined by Deputy District Master Wor. Bro. James Morris, District Chaplain Wor. Bro. Bro. Brian Niblock, District Secretary Wor. Bro. Stephen Nicholson, Assistant Secretary, Wor. Bro. Richard McKee and District Treasurer Wor. Bro. David Hanna.
Visitors will find parking available on Greencastle Street, Bridge Street, and Newcastle Road, as well as at the public car park in the lower square of Kilkeel. In addition, Mourne District is providing a free parking area adjacent to Queen Elizabeth II Park on Manse Road to accommodate attendees.
LISBURN
And Lisburn overlaps with County Down and the City of Lisburn plays host to the 335th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne on Saturday, 12th July 2025, organised on behalf of the South Antrim Combine by Lisburn District LOL No. 6.
The celebration promises to be a major cultural and historical event, with over 2,000 members of the Orange Institution—including Orangemen, women, and Juniors— with 65 lodges joining forces with up to 25 marching bands to commemorate one of the most significant events in British and Irish history. Districts taking part include Royal Hillsborough District LOL No.19, Aghalee District LOL No.2, Glenavy District LOL No.4, Magheragall District LOL No.9, Ballinderry District LOL No.3, and Derriaghy District LOL No.11.
The day will be filled with music, pageantry, and celebration as they gather to mark their shared heritage and values. The main parade will begin at 11:30am from the assembly field at Wallace Park and proceed to QEII / Ballymacoss Playing Fields (The Brambles).
The parade route is as follows, Wallace Park (Magheralave Road), Railway Street, Market Square (through the ceremonial arch), Market Street, Smithfield Street, Hillsborough Road, Governors Road, Longstone Street (Chapel Hill Roundabout), Thiepval Road, Prince William Road, Knockmore Road finishing at QEII / Ballymacoss Playing Fields, where the procession is expected to arrive at around 1:00pm.
Formal proceedings will commence at approximately 1:45pm and will include a short religious service by Wor. Bro. Rev. Stephen Kilpatrick, reflecting the Orange Institution’s commitment to Christian principles and faith.
Lisburn District is proud to welcome two distinguished speakers to this year’s platform Deputy First Minister and local MLA, Emma Little-Pengelly and Wor. Bro. Keith Harbinson (PAGM), Chairman of the Institution’s Recruitment & Retention Committee.
These addresses will focus on the enduring values of the Orange tradition—Faith, Culture, Charity, and Family—and the continued relevance of the Institution in today’s society.
The main field at The Brambles will be transformed into a festive hub for the entire community, offering, a variety of food and refreshment stalls, family-friendly entertainment, including bouncy castles and activities for children and a dedicated Recruitment & Retention information stall, where visitors can learn more about the Orange Order, its history, values, and how to get involved
The celebration is open to all who wish to experience the richness of Ulster-Scots culture and the traditions of the Loyal Orders in a welcoming and positive atmosphere.
The return parade is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm, following the route of Knockmore Road, Ballinderry Road, Longstone, Chapel Hill and North Circular Road
Members of the public are advised to plan ahead for parking. While limited parking will be available at The Brambles, additional car parking is available at Trinity Methodist Church and Lisburn Free Presbyterian Church. (Please note that parking fees may apply.)
