Last Saturday demonstrations 2014

Approximately 17,000 members of the institution from almost 370 preceptories will demonstrate in Rathfriland, Armagh, Londonderry, Ballyclare, Larne and Donemana.

RATHFRILAND

The biggest parade will be in Rathfriland, which last played host to the event in 2001.

A total of 106 preceptories are expected to take part, accompanied by 80 bands. The parade will begin at noon on the Newry Road and go through the village to the Castlewellan Road.

The districts taking part are Lower Iveagh, Lecale, Castlewellan, Newry, Ballynahinch, Banbridge, Rathfriland, Mourne, Largymore, Comber, Newtownards, Saintfield and Bangor.

A religious service will be held at 2.45pm, conducted by Pastor Roy Graham. Ivan Kelly, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master, will speak.

A special attraction at Rathfriland will be a Children’s Choir from Uganda. They will take part in the parade in traditional costume and are expected to prove very popular with the spectators.

The New Beginnings Charitable Trust was founded in 2007 by Roger Annett, a native of Kilkeel, Co Down. The Charity was founded to help some of the hundreds of thousands of needy children in Uganda. The main aim of the Charity was, and is, to provide secure housing, education and medical facilities for underprivileged and orphaned children, in a Christian environment, and give them hope for the future.

About three years ago the children were encouraged to form a choir which is now touring Scotland and Ireland.

ARMAGH

The city of Armagh will host its first demonstration on the Last Saturday for 10 years.

This year 60 preceptories and 60 bands will take part in the parade which starts at noon and goes via Dean’s Hill, College Hill, College Street, Upper English Street, Market Street, Scotch Street, Barrack Street, Gaol Square, Victoria Street, Victoria Road, Drumadd Road, Kiln Road, Hamiltonsbawn Road to Spring Farm.

The districts represented will be Killyman, Aughnacloy, East Tyrone, Fermanagh, Summerisland and Primatial. It is expected that preceptories from Cavan and Monaghqan will also attend.

A religious service will be held at 2.15pm, conducted by Rev. John Batchelor. The principal speaker will be Robert Dane, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master.

TYRONE

In County Tyrone the demonstration will be held in Donemana. Twenty four preceptories from South Donegal, Omagh, Castlederg and Strabane will take part. They will be accompanies by 22 bands.

The procession will get underway at 1.30pm and go via Longland Road, Lisnarragh Road to Berryhill Road.

The parade was last held in Donemana in 2011.

A religious service will be held at 2.30pm, conducted by Ian Donnell and Rev. Ivan Dinsmore.

The principal speakers will be Rev. Robert Campbell, County Grand Chaplain

Antrim, and William Montgomery. The Assistant Sovereign Grand Master, Andrew McRoberts, will also speak.

The demonstration will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Strabane district.

LONDONDERRY

In Londonderry, 34 preceptories will be on parade, accompanied by 33 bands.

The demonstration was last held in Londonderry in 2008.

The parade will consist of members of the Royal Black Institution from Coleraine, City of Londonderry, Raphoe and South Londonderry District.

The parade will begin at noon and move off from May Street via Limavady Road, Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carisle Road, Ferryquay Street, the Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Rod, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road and Bond Street back to May Street.

The platform proceedings will begin at 2pm, conducted by Rev. J.J. Andrews. The guest speaker will be Rev. Nigel Reid, Past Assistant Sovereign Grand Master.

BALLYCLARE

The County Antrim demonstration will be held in Ballyclare. It was last held there in 2008 and this year 3,000 members of the Royal Black Institution from 79 preceptories are expected to take part.

More than 70 bands will join the parade which will begin at 12.30pm and go via Rashee Road, Rashee Park, Erskine Park, Ballyeaston Road, North End, The Square, Main Street and Mill Road to Sixmilewater Park where a religious service will be held at 3pm.

The service of worship will be conducted by Rev. Ian McClean.

The principal speaker will be the Sovereign Grand Master, Millar Farr.

The districts represented will be Lisburn, Ballymena, Antrim, Larne, Ballymoney and Ballyclare.

LARNE

The City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter is holdings its annual demonstration in Larne.

The demonstration was last held in the town in 1985.

The parade will begin at noon at the Sandy Bay pitches and go via Bay Park, Curran Road, Glenarm Road, Newington Avenue, Ferris Avenue, Herbert Avenue, Old Glenarm Road, Victoria Road, Pound Street, High Street, Upper Main Street and Circular Road.

There will be 59 preceptories from Belfast on parade, accompanied by 33 bands.

A religious service will be held at 11.30, conducted by William Elliott.