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Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
An Orange Order parade in Donegal: Rossnowlagh's annual event in pictures
Thousands of people attended the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal , last Saturday. The parade, which takes place each year a week before the main Twelfth of July celebrations in Northern Ireland , was attended by groups from Donegal, Cavan , Leitrim and Monaghan as well as by members from across the North. The event began close to St John's Church, before making its way along country roads to the 'demonstration field' overlooking the sea. A religious service was conducted by the Rev Brian Russell, rector of Drumholm, before a return parade left the field in the afternoon. The event in the south Donegal coastal town was led by Donegal Orange Order county grandmaster David Mahon. READ MORE The Protestant Orange Order each July commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, which happened in July 1690, when the last British Catholic monarch King James II was defeated by Protestant King William, sometimes referred to as William of Orange. During the celebrations, members of the Orange Order – named after the victorious king and founded in 1795 – carry banners and flags in parades across Northern Ireland and host bonfires the night before. The events in the North have at times in the past sparked significant social unrest and rioting. The order, a 'fraternal' organisation, has 35,000-40,000 members, including an estimated 2,000 in the Republic. There are Grand Orange Lodges in Scotland, England, the US, West Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There are Orange Order members in nine counties of the Republic with 44 Orange halls in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. Rossnowlagh, Donegal where upwards of 50 lodges from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, as well as visiting Orangemen from Northern Ireland and further afield, took part in a parade last Saturday. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Participants in the Rossnowlagh parade in Co Donegal. Photograph Nick Bradshaw Orange Order members on the beach at Rossnowlagh. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Spectators at the Rossnowlagh parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Participants heading onto the beach in Rossnowlagh. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Taking a dip during the Rossnowlagh Orange Order parade in Co Donegal last Saturday. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, where thousands attended the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Rossnowlagh, Donegal, during the annual Orange Order parade. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rossnowlagh: Thousands attend Orange Order parade in Donegal
Large crowds have gathered in County Donegal for the annual Orange Order parade in the seaside village of 50 lodges and bands from counties Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan are taking part along with other Orangemen from across Northern Ireland. Some visitors from overseas also take in the grand master of the Orange Order in Donegal, David Mahon, said the order was going from strength to strength in the County. "It's always a good carnival type of day, with lots of people selling burgers, chips and other things that go with it," Mr Mahon said."It's an important day for the Order as it's the only Twelfth [parade] we have in the Republic of Ireland. "It means a lot for the members. We've always had the Twelfth here for as long as I can remember and that's a long while," he Mahon said the order has good relations with the Catholic community in Donegal. "They help us out any way they can on the day with car parking and things like that," he said. The Rossnowlagh parade takes place each year on the Saturday before the main Twelfth of July commemorations in Northern Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, when Protestant William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II in 1690. Alan Thompson told BBC News NI he loved coming to Rossnowlagh for the celebrations. "It's always a great day and there's never any bother, always a great atmosphere," he said. "I've come down from Ballinamallard. Lovely bands here and I just love coming down." Gillian Stronge from Fermanagh said she enjoyed the parade whatever the weather. "The whole atmosphere is just brilliant and there's always a big crowd," she said."I'm here with friends from Fermanagh and it's one of the highlights of the year."
