60 lodges for the Coleraine Twelfth

The host district, Macosquin, will bring the parade to the town for the first time in four years and a huge crowd is expected to enjoy the festivities.

Holidaymakers on the north coast are expected to swell the crowd as they turn out to see the Twelfth.

Limavady district have been given the honour of leading the parade and they will be followed by the districts – City of Londonderry and brethren from Donegal, Coleraine and Macosquin.

As well as the 60 lodges, members of the women’s institution and junior lodges will also take part in the parade.

The parade will assemble at Union Street at 12 noon.

Fifty bands, including pipe, accordion and flute, will head off through the town, via Railway Road, Kingsgate Street, Long Common, Beresford Road, Blindgate Street, Dunmore Street, New Row, Church Street, the Diamond, Queen’s Street, Circular Road, the Old Bridge, Waterside, Castlerock Road and King’s Road to the demonstration field at Carthall Road.

A religious service will be held there at 2.30pm. Among those taking part will be Samuel Calvin, Deputy County Grand Master, Rev. John Noble and Rev. Keith McIntyre, the Chaplain of Macosquin District, who will give the address.

More than 60 bands will take part in the South Londonderry demonstration in Tobermore. It is expected that 4,000 people will be on parade and about 5,000 spectators will come to the small village.

It is seven years since the Twelfth was held in Tobermore There are eight districts on parade – Tamlaght O’Crilly, Moneymore, Castledawson, Tobermore, Magherafelt, Ballyronan, Garvagh and Kilrea.

All districts will assemble at the golf driving range on the Maghera Road for 11.00am and move off at 11.30am to parade via Maghera Road and Main Street to the demonstration field on the Draperstown Road.

The main parade will be led by Garvagh District No.4.

The religious service will begin at 2pm and will be chaired by Hugh Stewart, County Grand Master, Londonderry. Among those taking part will be Rev. Joseph Andrews, County Grand Chaplain, Londonderry, Rev. Warren Porter and Pastor Dennis Murphy.

The Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Drew Nelson will be the guest speaker.

Three of this year’s Twelfth demonstrations have been selected by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland for tourist flagship status.

The Twelfths in Enniskillen, Carrickfergus and Ballynahinch have been chosen to get extra support during the run up to the biggest festival in Northern Ireland.