30,000 expected for Twelfth

Some 30,000 people are expected to be on the streets of Newtownards next Monday to support their local Orange lodges, for this years 12th of July celebrations.

Bangor district lodges and bands will unite with Newtownards, Holywood and the Ards Peninsula branches, to take part in the parade, one of the 18 demonstrations taking place across Northern  Ireland next Monday.

It has been five years since the Twelfth was held in Newtownards and with good weather  predicted for the day, a large turnout is expected.

 The District are anticipating approximately 1500 participants and 32 bands and a large number of brethren from England and Scotland are also expected.

Bangor District Lodge will leave Hamilton Road at 10.00am, with bands and lodges assembling in Hamilton Road area from around 9.15am onwards. 

The route will be Hamilton Road, Lower Main Street, Bridge Street, High Street, Donaghadee Road to the Savoy Roundabout, Hamilton Road, Upper Main Street, Abbey Street and the parade will break at the Belfast Road for the bands and lodges to board buses for Newtownards.

The main parade in Newtownards  will assemble in the side streets near the Orange Hall at Mary Street from around 11.15am and at mid-day will move off through the town.

The procession will move along West Street, North Street, Upper North Street, Talbot Street and  Hardford Link.

It will continue along Church Street, Regent Street, Francis Street, Windmill Row and East Street.

The parade will then carry on through the Bangor Road Roundabout, Zion Place, Georges Street, Upper Movilla Street, onto Queen Street, Queen Street hill, Greenwell Street,Georges Street, New Road and finally the Portaferry Road.

The demonstration Field will be located in Londonderry Park Newtownards,which the parade will enter through the first gate.

It is envisaged that the parade will take approximately 1/2 hour to pass any given point.