Tens of Thousands Attend Orange Order Parades Across Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's annual Twelfth of July parades and celebrations saw tens of thousands of participants and spectators across multiple locations, including Belfast, Maghera, Portadown, Scarva, and Keady. These events commemorate the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, where Protestant King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II, and feature traditional Orange Order lodges, Royal Black Institution preceptories, and marching bands accompanied by speeches and religious services. Despite ongoing religious tensions and opposition from Catholic, Irish nationalist, and other groups who view the parades as sectarian, the events were largely peaceful, with large crowds celebrating under warm temperatures above 25C. Political leaders, including DUP's Gavin Robinson, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann, participated in speeches urging greater unity and cooperation among unionist parties. The annual Sham Fight in Scarva attracted approximately 100,000 attendees, one of the largest single-day events in Northern Ireland, while smaller local parades, such as in Maghera and Portadown, were supported by families and community members. The celebrations also included the burning of bonfires in loyalist neighborhoods, a long-standing tradition connected to the festivities.