Twelfth of July parades take place in Northern Ireland

Orange Order Twelfth of July parades have taken place at 17 locations across Northern Ireland.

Tens of thousands of people attended the events, which mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

William III – the Dutch-born Protestant better known as William of Orange or King Billy – defeated the Catholic King James II in County Meath in July 1690.

Former Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll was among those who watched the Orangemen marching on Thursday.

Edward Stevenson, the grand master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, said the parades showcased “culture and heritage”.

“There are very few events on these islands that can bring such vast numbers of people on to the streets, either by taking part or simply to watch the music and pageantry,” he told BBC News NI.

The Orange Order was formed near Loughgall in County Armagh in 1795, when its founding members pledged their loyalty to the royal family and swore to defend the Protestant faith.

Every year on 12 July, marching bands from Orange lodges all over Northern Ireland parade through villages, towns and cities before listening to speeches and prayers by senior Orangemen.

Loughgall hosted one of the parades on Thursday and rugby legend Mr O’Driscoll tweeted to say he was at the procession to film a documentary on how his sport unifies Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland’s tourism minister said the welcome he received at the Twelfth parade in Belfast was “a measure of how far we’ve come”.

Brendan Griffin became the first Irish government minister to attend the main Belfast parade.

The Orange Order presented him with a tie as he watched the parade on the Dublin Road in the centre of the city, a move that he said would once have been “unthinkable”.

“We’re making great progress – we’ve a long way to go but all of these little steps are all positive steps.

“And if we can do little things that can help for the future, let’s do that.”

The Democratic Unionist Party’s Peter Weir, who is also an Orangemen, said the visit by Mr Griffin was an example of “going the extra mile”.

“And hopefully it’s part of a wider recognition of the Irish government of the importance of Orangeism within Ireland as a whole,” he added.

Edward Stevenson, the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, said the annual commemorations had been a “day to remember” and that there had been “extraordinary numbers of people”.

“The Orange fraternity of County Armagh were also thrilled to be in the company of former Irish rugby international Brian O’Driscoll, who excelled himself on the Lambeg drum.” he added.

“Such developments are to be commended and highlight the broad and growing appeal of our cultural traditions.”

About 50 lodges from Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan – as well as the host county of Donegal – marched along the narrow country roads into the seaside village.

This year, parades were held on Thursday in: