Latest news with #HaroldHenning
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Twelfth of July: Thousands join Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland
Tens of thousands of people joined Twelfth of July celebrations across Northern Ireland, braving scorching temperatures for the traditional Orange Order parades. Crowds lined the streets in cities, towns and villages as the region marked the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. The parades typically consist of Orange lodges accompanied by marching bands, drawing support from spectators along their routes. When the parades reach demonstration fields, a religious service is observed and speeches delivered before the march home. This year's festivities, spread across 19 main locations, also featured calls for unionist political parties to collaborate. This year's celebrations took place with temperatures above 25C right across Northern Ireland. DUP leader Gavin Robinson addressed the parade in Belfast, while Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly delivered a speech at the Lisburn parade. Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann spoke at the parade in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Orange Order deputy grand master Harold Henning told the parade in Maghera, Co Londonderry, that unionist political parties had to work together. He said: 'The leadership of this institution remains consistent in its desire to see closer collaboration between the leadership of our pro-union political parties so as to maximise unionist representation at all levels of government. 'Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged – more than that, it should be demanded, and country should always come before party or individual self -interest. 'Let's get that message out to our politicians – as a people, we want to see more unity of purpose across political unionism.' One of the largest parades took place in Keady, Co Armagh, where Orange Order grand secretary Mervyn Gibson spoke about the strengths of the union. He said: 'We need to promote the union at every opportunity – a union that has stood the test of time and continues to offer its citizens stability, opportunity, and purpose. 'At its heart, the United Kingdom is more than just a political entity. 'It is a partnership of four nations England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – each with its own identity, traditions, and strengths. 'Let us concentrate on building and promoting this union, which a generation defended during the Troubles against the murderous, cowardly terrorist campaign of republicans.' On Saturday morning, an Orange Order feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast without incident. On Sunday, a return parade will return past the shops, but will be restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. The Twelfth celebrations come after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with a 'challenging' situation and one firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was 'very disappointed' that a controversial bonfire in south Belfast was lit despite warnings of asbestos on the site. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, about 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff are working on July 12. On the 11th night, about 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is because of falling police numbers and the resulting increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands take part in Twelfth celebrations in scorching temperatures
Tens of thousands of people have been taking part in Twelfth of July celebrations in scorching temperatures throughout Northern Ireland. Crowds lined the streets in cities, towns and villages across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades. This year's events have heard calls for unionist political parties to work together. The festivities have been spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. The parades consist of Orange lodges accompanied by marching bands and supported by spectators along the routes. When the parades reach demonstration fields, a religious service is observed and speeches delivered before the march home. This year's celebrations took place with temperatures above 25C right across Northern Ireland. DUP leader Gavin Robinson addressed the parade in Belfast, while Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly delivered a speech at the Lisburn parade. Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann spoke at the parade in Carnlough, Co Antrim. Orange Order deputy grand master Harold Henning told the parade in Maghera, Co Londonderry, that unionist political parties had to work together. He said: 'The leadership of this institution remains consistent in its desire to see closer collaboration between the leadership of our pro-union political parties so as to maximise unionist representation at all levels of government. 'Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged – more than that, it should be demanded, and country should always come before party or individual self -interest. 'Let's get that message out to our politicians – as a people, we want to see more unity of purpose across political unionism.' One of the largest parades took place in Keady, Co Armagh, where Orange Order grand secretary Mervyn Gibson spoke about the strengths of the union. He said: 'We need to promote the union at every opportunity – a union that has stood the test of time and continues to offer its citizens stability, opportunity, and purpose. 'At its heart, the United Kingdom is more than just a political entity. 'It is a partnership of four nations England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – each with its own identity, traditions, and strengths. 'Let us concentrate on building and promoting this union which a generation defended during the Troubles against the murderous, cowardly terrorist campaign of republicans.' On Saturday morning, an Orange Order feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast without incident. On Sunday, a return parade will return past the shops – but will be restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. The Twelfth celebrations come after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with a 'challenging' situation and one firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir said he was 'very disappointed' that a controversial bonfire in south Belfast was lit despite warnings of asbestos on the site. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, about 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff are working on July 12. On the 11th night, about 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is because of falling police numbers and the resulting increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events.
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Senior Orangeman joins calls for unionist unity as DUP leader says division ‘has cost us dearly'
Harold Henning, the Orange Order's Deputy Grand Master, said cooperation between parties should be 'demanded', not just encouraged. It came as Gavin Robinson said division had cost unionism dearly. Although neither specifically mentioned electoral pacts, both want greater party co-operation in future elections. Northern Ireland is next due to go to the polls in the 2027 Assembly election. In some seats, such as Lagan Valley at the last Westminster poll, a split vote has seen a non-unionist candidate elected. Mr Henning, speaking at the Twelfth in Maghera, Co Londonderry, made a clear plea for unionist co-operation. 'I recognise that the Orange family is a broad church in terms of its political views - however, one thing all our members can agree on is that our interests are best served as citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,' he said. 'The leadership of this Institution remains consistent in its desire to see closer collaboration between the leadership of our pro-Union political parties so as to maximise unionist representation at all levels of government. 'Cooperation between our political representatives must be encouraged - more than that, it should be demanded, and country should always come before party or individual self-interest. 'Let's get that message out to our politicians – as a people, we want to see more unity of purpose across political unionism.' Twelfth celebrations get underway in Belfast Meanwhile, in a pre-Twelfth email to DUP members, Gavin Robinson said politicians must take note of the Orange Institution's "unifying power'. 'Across towns and villages, it brings together people from every walk of life, reminding us of the strength that comes when we stand side by side,' he said. 'That is a message unionism must learn from. We achieve more together than we do apart. 'Divided unionism has already cost us dearly. 'As we look ahead to Assembly and council elections in two years' time, we must explore how to maximise the pro-Union vote and return more unionist representatives, not fewer. 'The need for common purpose and cooperation has never been more obvious or more essential.' Meanwhile, South Antrim MP Robin Swann attacked the Windsor Framework during a speech at the Twelfth in Carnlough. In a direct message to Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Mr Swann said the Union is a commitment, not a convenience. 'The Windsor Framework does not restore our place fully in the UK internal market,' he said. 'It leaves Northern Ireland subject to foreign laws we cannot change. 'It carves a regulatory border between Larne and Stranraer, between Belfast and Ayrshire. 'It sends a message: That our place in the United Kingdom is conditional; that our rights as British citizens are somehow less equal than those across the water.' He added: 'The Framework may offer tweaks — but it does not solve the fundamental problem. Our economic, constitutional, and democratic rights remain compromised. 'So, we say to the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn - the Union is not a convenience - It is a commitment. 'And Northern Ireland must be fully, equally and permanently part of it, and you need to step up to the job you have been given.'
Belfast Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Orange Order protest parade takes place at Drumcree as Commission says restriction ‘remains necessary'
Marchers applied, and failed, to walk down the Garvaghy Road as they have been attempting to for the last 27 years. The Orange Order had previously walked the route as part of its traditional march every year on the last Sunday before the Twelfth. The mid to late 1990s saw disputes over the parade escalate into widespread rioting and disorder across Northern Ireland. In 1998, the newly-established Parades Commission ruled the Orange Order should not march down Portadown's mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road on the end leg of its annual march from Drumcree Church. On Sunday, speakers including Deputy Grand Master Harold Henning and Nigel Dawson addressed Orangemen who had gathered. DUP MLA for Upper Bann Jonathan Buckley was also pictured in attendance. It was recently reported that Orange Order leaders appeared to have cut off contact with the Parades Commission over the Drumcree protest in the weeks leading up to the parade. The commission has had no meetings about its ban on the return parade in Portadown, via Garvaghy Road. It said: 'No further representations have been received in relation to this parade this year.' In its determination on the march, the commission said the parade has a 'long and contentious history'. Referring to outreach efforts in 2022, the Parades Commission explained that Portadown District LOL No 1 holds a weekly protest parade as part of its campaign for the restoration of the return parade along the Garvaghy Road. The Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition has stressed that 'any attempt to process the notified route would cause significant community tension and is therefore non-negotiable'. Residents say the trauma from the past still remains. Portadown LOL No 1 says that being prevented from completing the route is 'an unjustified infringement of their rights'. They have said their willingness to meet with residents still stands. However, residents said previous attempts at dialogue were 'disingenuous and futile' as the District entered discussions 'without a willingness to compromise on the return route, the route being the main area of contention'. The residents said that nationalists in Portadown had declared their continued willingness 'to accept an alternative, less contentious, route along Corcrain/Dungannon Road. No further representations were received in relation to this year's parade, the commission said. The Parades Commission determined that a restriction on the route 'remains necessary, proportionate and fair', reflecting 'the potential impacts on community relations in the immediate vicinity of Portadown and across Northern Ireland'. It therefore has to follow a specified outward and identical return route, or participants are expected to disperse no later than 2.30pm from Drumcree Parish Church.
