Tyrone Twelfth parades to go ahead this summer

THE Orange Order has confirmed parades to celebrate the Twelfth of July will go ahead this year, albeit on a more localised basis across Tyrone.

At least three parades have been submitted to the Parades Commission to take place in the county on the Twelfth, submitted by Orange Order lodges in Killen, Castlecaulfield and Cookstown.

Around 500 are expected to attend the parade in Cookstown, 400 at the event in Castlecaulfield and 160 at the parade in Killen.

The 12th parades did not take place in 2020 due to ongoing concerns in relation to Covid-19 restrictions.

And Grand Master, Edward Stevenson, who is from Ardstraw, said the demonstrations would have to take place in a slightly different format this year.

He said, “The current regulations are such that the traditional County or combined District Twelfth parades are not possible. Instead, it has been agreed that localised Twelfth parades will be held in accordance with the regulations in effect at that time.

“In 2020 we had the Twelfth at Home and this year we will have smaller local parades, so it will be a Twelfth near home for most members. This is a positive step towards a return to our normal full parades – hopefully in 2022.”