Rossnowlagh Twelfth

In all 50 Lodges from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, as well as visiting Orangemen, to take part in the parade which began close to St John's Parish Church at 12.30pm, slightly earlier than normal.

The parade made its way to the demonstration field, on the edge of the shoreline – surely one of the most beautiful locations for an Orange parade anywhere in the world.

A religious service, set against the backdrop of the Donegal Hills and the rolling breakers of the Atlantic, was held at 3pm. The service was conducted by local minister Rev. Brian Russell, and the special preacher was Rev Stanley Gamble, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

The Twelfth in Donegal has been held in Rossnowlagh since the 1900s and has taken place there every year since 1978. It has become traditional to hold the parade on the Saturday before the main Twelfth parades. This means that Lodges in the Irish Republic are able to attend the Twelfth demonstrations in Northern Ireland.

There are 44 Orange Halls in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim and the Orange Order has members in nine counties in the Irish Republic.

In his sermon Rev. Stanley Gamble, a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland said the 'Glorious Revolution' was not as some think it, an Irish affair, a battle between Protestant and Catholic, Unionist and Nationalist, not even a battle between the British and the Irish.

Noting it was a European affair, a battle between freedom and tyranny, tolerance and bigotry, the common good and narrow self interest, he said: "Sadly, we haveoften misunderstood and misrepresented the Glorious Revolution. And this has been to our loss and detriment. Ireland was centre stage for one of the most significant events in the history of the modern world. The civil and religious liberties, and common law, which we enjoy and take for granted today, took a significant step forward during the events of the Glorious Revolution on Irish soil.

"Ireland can, therefore, be rightfully proud of her role in this pivotal point in the history of the free world, and should seek to promote it through education, cultural tourism and the arts," he said, adding: "In recent years, the continuing relevance of the Glorious Revolution has officially been acknowledged by the Irish State. When revising the Statute Books, the Bill of Rights 1688 was highlighted andmaintained by the Statute Law Revision Act 2007

"The then Taoiseach commending the enactment of Statute Law Revision Bill, noted 'the continuing relevance' of the Bill of Rights and Dr. Martin Mansergh described the Bill of Rights as 'special' and as 'one of the foundation stones to our legislation.' Senator David Norris said 'On the Bill of Rights 1688, the Leader was right to hone in on that. What interesting legislation… the Glorious Revolution… was to secure religious liberty'.

"The Bill of Rights remains a foundation stone for the Irish State. This is another reason for the Orange tradition to be highlighted and appreciated by all sections of Irish Society today. We may never agree with one another on the grounds of religion or politics, but at least we can agree on the grounds of civil and religious liberty for all and the rule of our common law. And thankfully more and more people are starting to realise this."

Paying tribute to retiring Irish President, Mary McAleese, not only for hosting a Twelfth of July reception at the Aras an Uachtarain, but also for her work towards a shared and peaceful future, he said: "As an Orangeman, who is both Irish and British, Catholic and Protestant, can I thank President McAleese for all that she has done, and wish her every blessing in retirement. May she leave office with a sense of satisfaction and achievement."

He said it would be great to see The Queen visit Dublin, saying he had no doubt the majority of Irish people would extend a warm and friendly welcome to her, just as they did to her grandfather King George V, 100 years ago next year.