Latest news with #ShamFight
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tens of thousands attend Scarva parade and Sham Fight
About 100,000 people have turned out for the annual Royal Black parade and Sham Fight in Scarva - one of the organisation's biggest events to than 90 Royal Black Institution preceptories and marching bands took part in the traditional procession through the County Down of the highlights of the day is the traditional Sham Fight between period actors dressed as King William III and King James II at the Scarva Demesne.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Climate
- Belfast Telegraph
NI heatwave set to come to an end after temperatures peaked on Twelfth of July
The warmest day of the year was recorded during Twelfth celebrations on Saturday when the mercury hit a whopping 30C at Magilligan in Co Londonderry making it the hottest its been here since July 2022. Sunday was slightly cooler with a maximum temperature of 27.1C in Castlederg, Co Tyrone. It's expected to be cooler again on Monday as one of the biggest ever parades is set to get underway in Scarva, Co Down, with 82 marching bands taking part in the annual Sham Fight. However it could still reach 20C as 85 Royal Black Institution (RBI) lodges join the procession. "We could see a trend upwards in the temperatures once again as we head into the back end of the week' – Met Office "The weather does change over the next couple of days becoming a bit more unsettled,' said a Met Office spokesperson. "Showers move in tonight into tomorrow morning which could bring the odd rumble of thunder. "Showers will remain through much of the day, mostly towards the west, but temperatures will start to feel a little cooler than in previous days." It follows a blistering hot weekend where the sun attracted many visitors to the seaside. Donaghadee pier was hiving with kayakers spotted around the harbour where daredevils dived into the water. Others dabbled in a spot of fishing in the Co Down town. Things were more relaxed around the coast in Bangor where passersby basked in the sunshine while taking in the sunning view while sun-worshippers gathered on the pier. The bright spell looks set to end just as the 250,000 visitors begin making their to Portrush for the Open Championship this week. The Met Office spokesperson said it will remain unsettled into Tuesday with more heavy showers and the risk of thunder and hail. "Temperatures again a nudge down on the weekends,' they continued. 'Wednesday may be a little more settled with some drier weather, however we could see a trend upwards in the temperatures once again as we head into the back end of the week.' It comes after golfing superstars began arriving in Portrush for the first official day of Open preparation. Scotland and Wales also recording their warmest day of the year so far on Saturday. It reached 32.2C in Aviemore which was the first time temperatures exceeded 30C in Scotland since June 13, 2023 and only the seventh time since at least 1961 that the same high has been recorded in the country. In Wales the mercury soared to 33.1C in Cardiff's Bute Park beating the 2025 record set on Friday of 32.4C at the same location. England was also hot, with maximum temperatures also hitting 33.1C in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, however it did not break the country's current record for the year which remains 35.8C as recorded in Kent at the beginning of July. Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said the heat has peaked. 'So we've got this ridge of high pressure extending across the UK, helping to keep things settled, but out towards the west an area of low pressure moving through Sunday night and into Monday,' she explained. 'So if you're not a fan of the heat temperatures will be falling away but also bringing some heavy spells of rain, or welcome rainfall, for many of us.'
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Huge crowds expected at annual Sham Fight in Scarva which takes place a day later this year
Eighty-five Royal Black Institution (RBI) lodges will also be joining the procession which normally takes place a day after Twelfth of July demonstrations are held across Northern Ireland. However, as July 13 falls on a Sunday this year, the spectacle will take place on the Monday. Festivities will kick-off at the slightly earlier time of 10.45am to accommodate extra visitor numbers as large crowds are expected to gather for the re-enactment of King William III's victory over King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Sandy Heak, a member of the organising team and one of the many participants in the mock battle, branded it a 'truly special event'. '[It is] a wonderful day out for families, when the sleepy village of Scarva comes alive to the sights and sounds of an amazing spectacle,' he said. 'This year, with the 13th falling on a Sunday, this provides a break between the Twelfth celebrations on the Saturday and Scarva on Monday the 14th, and this could mean even more spectators turning out to enjoy the Sham Fight.' RBI Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson praised members of the village-based Sir Alfred Buller Memorial RBP 1000 for delivering 'a wonderful day of culture and pageantry, which attracts upwards of 100,000 visitors to Scarva' every year. 'The procession through the village and beautiful Demesne, with preceptories carrying aloft colourful banners portraying Biblical scenes, is an amazing spectacle,' he said. 'Scarva is renowned for holding the biggest one-day event, at a single location, anywhere in Northern Ireland, and we in the institution appreciate the huge level of support from so many who travel from near and far to witness such a unique cultural experience.' Twenty-one new preceptories are anticipated to flock to the village from counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, increasing the number of participants by more than 7,000. The RBP 1000 will be accompanied by the Waringsford Pipe Band as it leads the celebration with John Adair re-taking the role of King William. Colin Cairns will once again don the costume of King James. The event will culminate in the Sham Fight at Scarva Demesne at 1.30pm with around 20 Sir Knights from the RBP 1000 dressing up as Williamite and Jacobean forces to re-enact the historic scene. Participants will be clad in 17th century regalia while carrying swords and muskets. A religious service will commence at 2pm before the parade returns for 3.15pm. The morning of the demonstration will see RBP 1000 members lay a wreath at the village memorial in memory of local members of the security forces killed during the Troubles.
