5 days ago
Bunting, bagpipes and bouncy castles bring joy to Augher
Red, white and blue bunting fluttered in the cool breeze under a blazing hot sun as families lined the streets of Augher for the Tyrone town's first Twelfth parade in six years.
While many came prepared with picnics and deckchairs, local shops still did a roaring trade in ice creams, lollies, and cool drinks as excitement built for Saturday's march.
Described by some as 'short and sweet', those who came to see the family-friendly Clogher Valley Twelfth parade clearly enjoyed it.
Children, waving Union Flags, grinned from ear to ear as around 18 local bands, along with Orange Lodges, made their way through town led by Fivemiletown LOL No. 15 and Annahoe LOL No. 6.
Classic cars, including a Mini wrapped in a Union Flag, gleamed in the sunshine, while a pair of white horses pulling a carriage driven by Tommy Irwin delivered a memorable end to the procession from Favour Royal Road down Augher Main Street to the final field along the A4.
Augher Orange Order's Ian McClung told The Impartial Reporter: 'It's probably one of the best attendances we've had for a number of years.
"The atmosphere, with the weather, has been superb. Ours is very much a family Twelfth.'
While he described it as 'relatively small compared with some of the other demonstrations', he said it was a 'great day' which attracted 'thousands'.
'What we lack in size, we make up for in quality and the atmosphere that's here. Everybody parks on the route, brings a picnic, gets their chairs out, and sits in front of the car to enjoy the parade as it goes past.
"We've made a particular effort with the bouncy castle, swing boats, and everything else.
"It keeps the younger generation interested, and the older generation just likes to sit about and catch up with family and friends.'
Brothers Stephen and Ivan Watt said their Lodges had been preparing for the parade for months. While members of different Orders, the pair said it really is a 'family day out'.
'I've been marching since I was 17 and I'm 58 now,' Stephen said, before taking his place in the procession.
In the final field, there was a resounding air of celebration and family time. While Orders chatted under gazebos to shield themselves from the searing sun, children played on swing boats and queued for ice creams at several vans dotted around the event ahead of the speeches.
Minister of Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church, Reverend Peter McIntyre, told this newspaper before addressing the crowd: 'It's a beautiful day.'
Rev. McIntyre said he was there to 'share the faith' in a time when 'church attendance [is] falling'.
'The theme is to be a Christian — it's a choice we all have. It's great to celebrate our Protestant heritage.
"King William was a Christian, and reformed Christianity lies at the heart of what made modern Britain.
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether we are Protestants, Roman Catholics, Muslim or Hindu — there's only one Saviour for us. That's the message I have.'
He added: 'In the Clogher Valley, and I've been here for 23 years, community relations are outstanding. We don't have the sectarian strife you see in other areas.
"People get on very well with each other.'
Worshipful District Master of Fivemiletown No. 15, Nigel Trotter, said: 'We always get the weather for the Twelfth in Augher.
"It might be one of the smaller Twelfths, but what is small in quantity, we make up for in quality.
"Our local bands, silver bands, pipe bands, accordion bands, and flute bands, come from within a 15-mile radius and are second to none.
"There has been a fantastic turnout of spectators. The whole route was lined on both sides.
"They were having their picnics and enjoying themselves — and that's what today was all about. It's a family day.'
