Members from Armagh are expected to join thousands of Royal Black Institution participants in Dungannon on Saturday, August 29, as five major demonstrations across Northern Ireland bring this year’s parading season to a close.
Upwards of 17,000 members are expected to take part across events in Coleraine, Dundonald, Dungannon, Larne and Newry. Around 350 preceptories and 300 bands are due to participate, with thousands more spectators anticipated along the parade routes.
Armagh members among Dungannon participants
The Dungannon demonstration will bring together around 3,500 participants from 80 preceptories and the same number of bands for the County Tyrone Grand Black Chapter event. Members from Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh and Armagh will join those from Tyrone.
The event is being hosted by Killyman RBDC No 1. The procession will make its way to Lord Northland Park, where around 20,000 spectators are expected to attend.
Five demonstrations planned across Northern Ireland
The largest gathering will be in Newry, which is hosting the event for the first time since 2011. Up to 5,000 participants, including members of around 100 bands, are expected to parade from Newry High School to the demonstration field at Shandon Park. The main parade will begin at noon, with the return procession scheduled for 4pm. Organisers anticipate about 5,000 spectators, and said the procession could take approximately two hours to pass any given viewing point.
In Larne, around 5,000 participants from 76 preceptories and 71 bands will parade to Sandy Bay playing fields. The main procession will start at noon and the return parade is scheduled for 4.15pm, with crowds of up to 10,000 spectators expected.
Coleraine will host the County Londonderry demonstration for the first time in 20 years. About 2,500 participants from 33 preceptories and 31 bands, representing four districts, will parade to Coleraine Showgrounds. The return procession is due to begin at 3.45pm.
A further 2,000 participants are expected at the City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter parade in Dundonald. Seven districts will take part, accompanied by 25 marching bands. The event will also include an Act of Remembrance at Dundonald War Memorial.
Religious services to feature
Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson, who will attend the Dungannon gathering, described the demonstrations as “flagship events on the parading calendar”.
He said: “We expect to see thousands of supporters turning out at the various locations, where they will see a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history,” while also highlighting the crowds at July celebrations in Scarva and Bangor and the attendance at Brookeborough on August 1.
Religious services will be held at each location, with the institution’s stance on the Reformed Christian Faith forming part of the demonstrations.