Twelfth of July:TENS OF thousands of Orangemen take to the streets of Northern Ireland today to commemorate the 319th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne amid indications of imminent efforts to end the Drumcree stand-off.
Orange Order Grand Master Robert Saulters, speaking at the annual demonstration by up to 12,000 marchers in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, on Saturday, said he backed his members holding face-to-face meetings with nationalist residents.
Breandán Mac Cionnaith, who represents those living along the Garvaghy Road route of the Drumcree parade in Portadown, held ground-breaking talks with First Minister Peter Robinson on Friday at Stormont as both sides in the 12-year dispute edge towards direct talks without preconditions.
Mr Saulters said: “We have no objection to [Orangemen] talking to the Garvaghy residents . . . We have a problem talking through Sinn Féin to them. If it is the residents, that’s fair enough.”
About 600 marches will take place today ranging from small local parades to large demonstrations at 18 locations.
Belfast will host the largest parade, with the Orange Order striving to change the perception of the event by rebranding it as the more visitor-friendly Orangefest.
For the first time, city centre stores and businesses will be open in the hope of attracting more people into the city which was more normally vacated by many, other than supporters of the parades.
Major demonstrations will also be hosted in Bangor, Co Down, Armagh city and Derry.
Traditional pre-Twelfth bonfires were lit in many parts on Saturday night despite heavy rain. The fire and rescue service answered up to 100 call-outs, but there were no serious incidents.
President Mary McAleese also hosted her annual garden party to mark the Twelfth at Áras an Uachtaráin at the weekend.
However, sporadic sectarian attacks, usually involving the throwing of paint at churches and other property, has continued across the North.
Parades Commission chairman Roger Poole said the spate of sectarian vandalism “are the work of a small minority on both sides who are determined to make trouble over the Twelfth”.
The head of the body which rules on contested parades added: “These criminal attacks are clearly designed to stir up sectarian strife over the summer and are to be condemned. I urge all of those involved in parading and associated protests to ensure that the acts of these small minorities do not succeed in ratcheting up sectarian tensions.”
Mr Poole complained that some small organisations still did not deal with the commission. “This situation serves no one’s best interests and I would urge these organisations to enter into dialogue at the earliest opportunity.
“Finally, I would like to commend the many individuals and groups across Northern Ireland from all communities who have worked hard throughout the year to ensure a peaceful parading season.”
Senior PSNI officers representing urban and rural areas have also issued appeals for a peaceful Twelfth demonstration.
In common with marches held so far this season, police presence will be light, although reserves will be on standby. The vast majority of the 600 parades will take place in the absence of controversy and with minimum policing, the PSNI said.
There will be renewed focus on the so-called feeder parade from the unionist Ballysillan area of north Belfast which passes nationalist Ardoyne on its return from the main Belfast demonstration.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness has warned the Orange Order that it cannot continue to “stretch” the local community to retain calm in the face of the feeder parade.
His remarks have angered Orangemen who have emphasised their own efforts to reduce tension and who view as “weasel words” republican commitments to a shared future.
Speeches by senior Orange figures at the various demonstrations are expected to reflect this.
Orange leaders have held talks with Cardinal Seán Brady, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the SDLP.