Sunday, December 22, 2024

Full traffic advice and parade routes for Twelfth of July celebrations across NI

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Celebrations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne are set to take place across Northern Ireland on Friday, July 12.

Hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators are expected to descend upon the 18 demonstration areas across the country for 2024.




The PSNI has issued traffic and travel advice for road users on Friday as traffic disruption is expected along parade routes and surrounding areas during The Twelfth celebrations.

Read more: US Tourist speaks out after going viral ‘getting stuck’ in an Orange Order parade

Read more: Times and locations of all Twelfth of July 2024 parades taking place across NI

Here are all the PSNI traffic advice and parade route information for the Twelfth of July celebrations across NI for 2024:

Belfast

Sandy Row – The parade will commence at 10.45am at Sandy Row Orange Hall and move along Sandy Row, Hope Street, Bruce Street, Great Victoria Street and College Square East on to Wellington Place where it will join the main parade.

North Belfast district parades – Carlisle Circus area from 9am onwards.

East Belfast / Ballymacarett – The parade will commence at 8.15am at Templemore Avenue and move along Newtownards Road, Bridge End, Queen Elizabeth Bridge, Ann Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Bridge Street, North Street, Peters Hill, Shankill Road, North Boundary Street and Denmark Street on to Carlisle Circus to lead the main parade.

West Belfast / Shankill – The parade will commence at 9.30am at West Belfast Orange Hall and move along Shankill Road, Peters Hill and North Street on to Royal Avenue where it will join the main parade.

South Belfast / Ballynafeigh – The parade will commence at 9.30am at Ballynafeigh Orange Hall and move along Ormeau Road, Stranmillis Embankment, Holylands, Botanic Avenue, Donegall Pass, Ormeau Road/Avenue, Linenhall Street, Donegall Square South, Donegall Square East and Donegall Square North towards the City Hall where it will join the main parade.

Main Belfast Twelfth of July parade

The Twelfth in Belfast(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)

The main Twelfth of July parade will commence its outward journey at 10.00am from Belfast Orange Hall in Carlisle Circus and move along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue and Donegall Place to the City Hall, where a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph.

At 10.50am, the parade will proceed along Donegall Square North, Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road into Barnett’s Demesne.

At 3.30pm, the main parade will commence its return journey from Barnett’s Demesne. It will proceed along Malone Road, Balmoral Avenue, Marlborough Park, Lisburn Road. Bradbury Place, Shaftsbury Square, Great Victoria Street, Bruce Street, Bedford Street, Donegall Square North, Donegall Place, Royal Avenue, Donegall Street and Clifton Street, finishing at Carlisle Circus.

Districts will branch off back to their own areas at various points throughout the return parade.

Additionally, Orange Fest will be held in the grounds of Belfast City Hall between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

Newtownstewart

Ahead of the main parade in Newtownstewart, bands will assemble for feeder parades at 10.15am and leave from Methodist Lane, Old Douglas Road and Strabane Road.

Participants will make their way to the demonstration field on Castle Brae for 2.30pm, along Baronscourt Road, Strabane Road and Main Street.

The return parade route is from Castle Brae at 3.30pm, along Moyle Road to Baronscourt Road for 5.30pm.

Benburb

The main parade is scheduled to assemble from around 11.30am from Benburb Community Playing Fields. At around 12.30pm, the parade will makes its way along Drumgose Road, Derryfubble Road, Main Street and into main demonstration field on Clonfeacle Road.

At approximately 4pm, the return parade will leave the main demonstration field and proceed along Main Street, Benburb and Drumflugh Road into Benburb (former) primary school. It is expected to disperse at around 5.30pm.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Derry

Co Londonderry twelfth celebrations in Limavady (Image: REACHPLC)

Prior to the main parades on Friday 12 th July, there are a number of feeder and return parades in the morning and evening in surrounding towns and villages including Plumbridge, Newbuildings, Claudy, Castlederg, Sion Mills, Strabane, Artigarvan, and The Waterside and Culmore areas of the city.

The main parade in the city starts at 11.30am with bands leaving from various assembly points including Glendermott Road, Carlin Terrace, Bond Street, Artillery Street and Pump Street.

The route is along Glendermott Road, Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, The Diamond, Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, May Street, Limavady Road to the field at Wilton Park for 2pm.

The return parade will leave from Wilton Park at 3.45pm along Limavady Road, May Street and Bond Street towards Glendermott Road, Dungiven Road and Rossdowney Park for 5.30pm for dispersal, and onward travel.

Moneymore

The main parade is scheduled to move off from the Desertmartin Road assembly field at around 11.30am making its way to the demonstration field. Delays should be expected from around 10am.

The route takes in Station Road, Lawford Street, High Street, Stonard Street, Bridger Street and Moneyhaw Road leading to the demonstration field.

The return parade is scheduled to move off at around 3.30pm, parading back to Desertmartin Road. The return parade should disperse at around 5pm.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Ballygawley

The main parade is scheduled to assemble from around 11am as participants and supporters arrive to assemble at Church Street in preparation. At approximately 12pm, the parade will leave Church Street and proceed along Main Street, Old Dungannon Road, Dungannon Road, Ballygawley Roundabout and Omagh Road, into main demonstration field at Ballygawley roundabout) for a service.

At around 3.30pm, the parade will leave the main demonstration field and proceed on its return journey and towards Church Street and Grange Road for dispersal at around 5.30pm.

There will be parking restrictions along the parade route. Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Irvinestown

Delays are expected from 10am as participants and supporters arrive to assemble at Castle Irvine Estate (Necarne Castle) in preparation. At approximately 12pm, the parade will leave the estate and proceed along Castle Street, Mill Street, Main Street (left hand side), Fair Green Street, Kesh Road and to the demonstration field opposite Kesh Road/ junction of Moneykee Road.

At approximately 3pm, the parade will leave the demonstration field and proceed on its return journey. It is expected to disperse at around 5.30pm

There will be parking restrictions along the parade route. Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, and if travelling between Omagh to Enniskillen, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Killylea

The 2023 County Armagh Twelfth Demonstration making its way through Lurgan town centre to Brownlow House.(Image: Kelvin Boyes/PressEye )

The main parade is scheduled to move off from the assembly field on the A28 Killylea Road from around 10am making its way to the demonstration field via Main Street to the demonstration field by 1pm.

The return parade is scheduled to move off from 2.45pm along the same route. There will be no through traffic on the A28 Killylea Road at Killylea village between 9am and 6pm.

The Killylea Road between the Ballycrummy Road/Killylea Road junction and the Knappagh Road/Killylea Road junction will be affected until 6pm with diversions in place.

Traffic travelling from Armagh to Caledon should travel via Cathedral Road, Battleford Road and Knappagh Road. Meanwhile, traffic travelling to Armagh from Caledon should travel via the Coolkill Road, Middletown and Monaghan Road.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Gilford

The main parade is scheduled to move off from the assembly field on the Lurgan Road at around 12pm making its way to the demonstration field at 1.45pm.

The route takes in High Street, High Street, Dunbarton Street, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Wall Road and Scarva Road leading to the demonstration field.

The return parade is scheduled to move off at around 4pm, parading back to Lurgan Road. Local lodges will turn at the square at Mill Street to Bridge Street and Stramore Road. The return parades should take around 90 minutes.

Parking is located on Gilford’s Scarva Road with limited parking also off the Lurgan Road close to the assembly field.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Annalong

The District parade will commence in Kilkeel on Friday between 10am-10.30am and will walk out along the coast road to Annalong. This route will bring in Greencastle Street, Bridge Street and Newcastle Road before making its way to Ballymartin and Annalong to the demonstration field at Hillmount Park.

Following a service and refreshments in the demonstration field, the return parade will move off at around 4pm. Lodges and bands will parade through Annalong to Ballymartin with a Kilkeel parade forming up at Mill Road junction taking in Newcastle Street, Bridge Street, Newry Street then Harbour Road, Harbour Drive and Knockchree Avenue to Kilkeel Orange Hall. This is expected to disperse around 6.30pm.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and, to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Also on Friday, at around 11pm, Mourne Young Defenders will parade from Newcastle Street to Bridge Street, Newry Street to Ben Crom, Harbour Road to Harbour Drive, Greencastle Street, Knockchree Avenue, Harbour Drive, Knockchree Avenue and Greencastle Street, finishing at the Orange Hall around midnight.

Ballynahinch

Local lodges and bands will assemble on Friday at around 11.15am taking in Dromore Road, Antrim Road, Dromore Road, Dromore Street, High Street, Main Street and Belfast Road.

The main demonstration is expected to start at 12pm along Belfast Road, Main Street, High Street, Church Street, Church Road and Spa Road.

Following refreshments and a service in the demonstration field from 2pm, the return parade will leave at around 4pm following the same route.

Ballynahinch District will then parade back to the Orange Hall from 5.30pm along Harmony Way, Windmill Street, High Street, Dromore Street and Dromore Road. Dispersing at around 6pm.

Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and to avoid potential delays, road users may wish to seek another route if not attending a parade.

Newtownards

Newtownards town centre, Co Down(Image: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.)

Road users are being advised to expect traffic delays in Newtownards this Friday 12th July, due to a planned parade.

The main parade will begin at 12:45pm from Londonderry Park to Portaferry Road – Court Square – Court Street – Old Cross Street – High Street – Mill Street – Frederick Street – Regent Street – Francis Street – Zion Place – Georges Street – Upper Movilla Street – Queen Street – Greenwell Street – New Road – Portaferry Road – Londonderry Park. (Parade is expected back in Londonderry Park by 2.30pm).

The return parade will commence at 4.30pm from Londonderry Park to Portaferry Road – Court Square – Court Street – Old Cross Street – High Street – Mill Street – Gibsons Lane – Regent Street –Francis Street – Zion Place – Bangor Road – Georges Street – Francis Street – Doctors Lane – High Street – Conway Square.

There will be a short service in Conway Square following the termination of the parade and the town centre will remain closed for this parade.

A number of smaller feeder/return parades will also be taking place across the town, which may add to further diversions on Friday morning, to facilitate participants and spectators. Traffic from Portaferry into Newtownards and Bangor to Newtownards may also be disrupted.

Officers will be on the ground to assist with the flow of traffic, but if you are not attending the parades, please seek an alternative route for your journey where possible.

Co Antrim

Road users are being advised to expect temporary traffic delays across Mid and East Antrim areas on Friday 12th July, due to a number of planned parades.

There will be main parades in Carrickfergus, Ballymena, Broughshane and Ahoghill, with smaller feeder/return parades taking place in other towns and villages across the borough.

It is likely that most delays may occur in the centre of each of the aforementioned towns and villages between 11am and 2pm then again at 4pm and 6pm.

Officers will be on the ground to assist with the flow of traffic, but if you are not attending any of the parades, please seek an alternative route for your journey where possible.

For more detailed information on the Co Antrim parade routes in each demonstration area, see here

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