21-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Apprentice Boys of Derry: Thousands line streets of Lisburn for Easter parade as marching season begins
It marked the first official day of the 2025 marching season, and commemorates the start of Londonderry city's siege.
The parade made its way through the centre of Lisburn this year, starting from Wallace Park at 12.30pm for a tour of the city.
Bands came from as far away as Fermanagh, Ballymena, Armagh city and Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone.
The bands headed south and performed a tour of the city centre, ending at Altona Road.
There were 6,000 participants listed, with the organiser being the Apprentice Boys of Derry Belfast and District Amalgamated Committee.
David Hoey, the general secretary of the Apprentice Boys, described the annual Easter tradition as 'just a good, solid, joyous day' while governor William Walker declared the turnout 'magnificent".
Whilst this Easter has been a particularly rainy one, it remained largely dry and bright for the entirety of the event.
Thousands of people across Northern Ireland have taken part in parades held in recent days, from both unionist and nationalist organisations and communities.
Police were attacked with petrol bombs as masked men led a New IRA parade through the streets of Derry.
Around 150 people had gathered for the parade on Monday afternoon.
Organisers said two bands, 500 participants and 100 supporters were expected.
It has previously been billed as the 'Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration', and left the Creggan shops at 2pm, ending at a New IRA monument in the Bogside.
Images from the parade in Derry showed a masked colour party leading those taking part in the parade.
