BALLYMENA: Hosts the largest parade in the District and this year a brand new Lodge will be taking part.

The town was formerly the headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment, until the disbanding of the home service battalion. The new lodge, Garryowen LOL, has been formed by ex-members of the Royal Irish Regiment, the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Rangers.

The parade is due to assemble at the Waveney Road car park around noon and go through the town via Pentagon, town centre, across Harryville Bridge and out Queen Street to the Ballee Playing Fields.

Rev. Victor Ryan, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland will be guest speaker at the service, with Rev. Ian McClean presiding. It is anticipated that approximately 20 bands will be taking part.

Fifes and drums are a prominent feature of the '12th' in Ballymena with some of the country's best exponents of the art on parade. Click on the bold link to view 'massed lambegs' at nearby Ahoghill. The Ballymena Times has no control over comments on exterior sites.


BROUGHSHANE:THE Braid District No. 18 will hold their parade for the Twelfth in the village of Broughshane.

At mid-day, Beechvale on the Ballymena to Broughshane Road will see the gathering of 12 lodges and bands, including at least three sets of lambeg drums. The parade route will lead to the Rathkeel Road, with Assistant Grand Master David McNarry guest speaking.

Leading up to the Twelfth, there will be a number of events held within
the area:

On Sunday, July 6th , Rev. John Pickering, formerly of Drumcree Parish Church, will conduct a service in St Patricks Parish Church in the village.

On Monday evening, July 7th, the local community centre will hold an Ulster-Scots language seminar, starting at 7.30pm.

On Tuesday July 8th, Dr Tony Redmond of the Broughshane Medical Centre will hold a talk on the history of Sir George White, VC.

The new bannerette will be unfurled at the annual band parade, held at 8pm on Wednesday, July 9th.

From Thursday July 10th at 7.30pm to Friday July 11th, a treasure hunt will be held in the village, and a family fun day will be held at the youth centre during the afternoon.

CULLYBACKEY:The Cullybackey demonstration will be a small family occasion with 17 lodges and a variety of bands taking part.

The parade assembles at 1pm at Ardna-maine and goes through the village to the football field at Cullybackey Community Centre.

The District Chaplain, Samuel McKay, will conduct the religious service.

A mini-Twelfth will be held in the village on Friday, July 4, when there will also be a re-enactment of the Battle of the Boyne by the North Irish Dragoon Society.

A musical evening will be held on Thursday, July 10, in Cullybackey High School with local musicians providing the entertainment.