Ballynahinch named as flagship town for Twelfth

Ballynahinch named as flagship town for Twelfth

27 June 2012

BALLYNAHINCH is one of the selected venues across the Province for this year’s Flagship Twelfth Demonstrations.

The market town, which will also be hosting the Royal Black Preceptory parade at the end of the August, is gearing up for the July 12 parade with a number of key events.

Details of the town’s Orange Festival were announced in September last year. The Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and the Ulster Scots Agency are the organisations to benefit from a number of events.

Those which have taken place to date include an awards night for outstanding service by Orange brethren from both sides of the border known as The Grands, which was followed by a district quiz, an Orange ball, a lecture on St. Patrick by Stormont Minister Nelson McCausland, a favourite hymns service in Magheradroll Parish Church and a talk on the origins of the Orange Order by David Scott.

For the past few weeks, historian Horace Reid has given fascinating illustrated talks in the town’s Market House on the history of Orangeism in the Ballynahinch area and the signing of the Ulster Covenant.

Looking ahead, forthcoming events include an Ulster-Scots concert and Lambeg drumming night this Saturday, June 30 at 7.30pm at the town square, while Ballynahinch’s annual Somme commemoration parade takes place on Monday, July 2 at 8pm, preceded by the unfurling of a new banner by LOL No. 547 in the Orange Hall at 7pm.

An Ulster Covenant and Orange exhibition will be held on July 3, 4 and 5 in Ballynahinch Orange Hall. On July 4, Mark Neale will give a talk on Lord Carson and the Ulster Covenant.

On Saturday, July 7, there’s a family fun day, including children’s Highland games at the Langley Road playing fields, starting at 1pm, followed by a marching bands’ Tattoo at 7.30pm, while the annual Orange District Church service will be held in Ballynahinch Methodist Church at 3.30pm on Sunday, 8. Brethren are asked to assemble at the Orange Hall at 2.45pm.

The festival will be brought to a close by the Flagship Twelfth Demonstration on July 12. The parade of thousands of Orange brethren and bandsmen moves off from the assembly field at the Moss Road in the town at 12.15pm, making its way through the town centre to the demonstration field at the Spa Road where ample parking is available for all.

There will be disruption to through traffic in Ballynahinch town centre from 10am until 6.30pm, with diversion signs in place on all approach roads. Dromore Street will be closed from 10am and Ballynahinch town centre will be traffic free from 11am.

Parade organisers are encouraging everyone who plans to attend the demonstration to arrive early. Ballynahinch will be an alcohol-free zone on July 12 and the PSNI will strictly enforce the licensing laws and Down Council by-laws.

Organisers say the parade is a family day to be enjoyed by all and want everyone to respect the instructions and directions of marshals and PSNI officers. The platform proceedings at the demonstration field commence at 2pm, with the Rev. Alastair Smyth conducting the religious service.