Events at six locations will mark the finale of the Northern Ireland parading season
The annual Royal Black Preceptory demonstrations take place across Northern Ireland this Saturday, 30 August. The parades will mark the finale of the Northern Ireland marching season with six major ‘Last Saturday’ demonstrations planned.
Events will be held in Antrim, Castlederg, Cookstown, Ballyclare, Dundrum and Limavady. Around 17,000 members will take part in the parades, involving around 350 preceptories and 300 bands.
Ahead of today’s events, Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson, who will address the Cookstown gathering, said: “The annual Last Saturday processions are flagship events on the parading calendar. We expect to see thousands of supporters turning out at the various locations, where they will see a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history.
“The institution’s principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront at all our demonstrations on the Last Saturday, with religious services held at each location.”
READ MORE: Last Saturday parade details as Royal Black Institution marching at six locations across NIREAD MORE: Belfast’s first-ever Halloween Blood Run to honour legacy of veteran journalist Ken Reid
Where and when are the Last Saturday parades 2025?
Below are the details of the Last Saturday parades 2025 as issued by the Royal Black Institution.
Parade details are as follows:
Antrim
The event – organised by County Antrim Grand Black Chapter and hosted by Antrim Royal Black District Chapter 3 – will involve 79 preceptories and 75 marching bands.
Around 4,500 participants, comprising 2,500 sir knights and 2,000 band members, will be on parade.
The organisers have confirmed six districts will attend: Lisburn No 1, Ballymena No 2, Antrim No 3, Larne No 4, Ballymoney No 5 and Ballyclare No 6.
Assembling at Fountain Hill, the parade will make its way to the demonstration field on the Randalstown Road, starting at 12noon.
The procession route is via Fountain Hill, Fountain Street, Church Street, High Street, Bridge Street, Dublin Road and on to Randalstown Road.
The return route, at 4.15pm, is via Randalstown Road, Castle Way, Church Street, Fountain Street, Fountain Hill and/or Belfast Road, or Cunningham Way (district dependent).
Platform proceedings will begin at 3pm, with the guest speaker being Sir Knight William McCrea.
The service of worship will be conducted by Sir Knight Rev David McCarthy, County Grand Chaplain.
The demonstration was last held in Antrim in 2017.
Ballyclare
City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter are holding their parade in Ballyclare.
Sir knights from Belfast traditionally parade in various provincial towns and cities on the Last Saturday.
Sandy Row, Shankill, Ballymacarratt and Ballynafeigh districts are among the seven taking part, with around 3,500 participants on parade, including the members of 24 bands.
Starting at 12noon, the parade will proceed to the demonstration field at Hillhead Road, following an Act of Remembrance at Ballyclare War Memorial.
The parade route will take in Ballynure Road, Main Street, The Square, Doagh Road, Ollardale Road, Hawthorn Way and Avondale Drive.
The return parade is scheduled to begin at 4pm.
Castlederg
Castlederg Royal Black District Chapter No 6 are organising the event, which will see a parade of 27 preceptories and a similar number of bands.
Omagh, Strabane and Fermanagh districts will take part in the parade, which was last held in Castlederg four years ago.
Starting at 12.30pm, the parade will make its way to the demonstration field on Castlegore Road, where the main platform speaker will be Sir Knight Rev Sean McClafferty, chaplain of Raphoe District No 3.
A return parade is scheduled to start at 3.30pm.
Cookstown
East Tyrone Royal Black District Chapter No 5 are hosting the demonstration, with up to 8,000 participants walking the 2.5-mile route.
It is largest Royal Black event in Tyrone, with 64 preceptories taking part.
This will be the 20th occasion, since 1905, that East Tyrone Chapter No 5 have hosted the event in the town.
East Tyrone will host Killyman, Aughnacloy, Primatial and Summerisland districts, located within Counties Armagh and Tyrone, as well as five preceptories from Cavan and Monaghan.
Headed by Tullylagan Pipe Band, the parade will move from the assembly point on the Grange Road at 12noon and proceed along Killymoon Street, William Street and Oldtown Street to the ‘field’ on the Moneymore Road.
Platform proceedings will begin at 2.30pm, with Councillor Frances Burton, the Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, in attendance.
District Master Sir Knight Eric Lyttle will act as Chairman, with the religious service conducted by District chaplains Rev Dr David Murphy and Rev Trevor Boyd.
The return parade will start at 3.40pm.
The parade was last held in Cookstown in 2018.
Dundrum
Up to 10,000 participants are expected to turn out at the Dundrum event, organised by Castlewellan RBDC No 3.
The morning parade is scheduled for 11.30am, following the route from the Orange Hall to the demonstration point at Ballyloughlin Road, via Main street, Belfast Road and Old Road.
Silver, flute, accordion and pipe bands will comprise the 97 ensembles taking part. The return parade is at 4pm.
Limavady
City of Londonderry Royal Black District Chapter No 2 are the organisers, and Star of the East RBP 97, Limavady, the host preceptory.
Sir knights from Coleraine RBDC No 1, Raphoe (County Donegal) RBDC No 3, and South Londonderry RBDC No 4 will participate.
Around 35 preceptories and 30 bands – some from the Republic – will attend.
The demonstration is being held in the Orange Field on Roemill Road.
Platform speakers are Sir Knights Maurice Devenney, District Master, City of Londonderry No 2 District; Jeffrey Stirling, County Grand Master, County Londonderry Grand Black Chapter; Rev Joseph Andrews, County Grand Chaplain, County Londonderry; and David Livingstone, Imperial Grand Treasurer.
The parade will start at 12noon, with the return set for 3.30pm. Flags will be displayed along the route to mark County Londonderry Grand Black Chapter’s 150th anniversary.
The last time a full parade was held in Limavady was 2018, with a smaller event during the easing of Covid restrictions in 2021.
What is the weather for Saturday in Northern Ireland?
According to the Met Office, the weather outlook for Saturday is as follows: After a dry start rain will spread northeast across later in the morning. Drier and eventually brighter weather following on from mid-afternoon. Windy, especially along the east coast. Maximum temperature 18°C.
What is the traffic and travel advice from police?
Police have warned that some disruption to traffic should be anticipated due to parades taking place in Belfast and in towns and cities across Northern Ireland. In North Belfast, the parade will begin at around 9.15am at Fleetwood Street and proceed to Crumlin Road then Carlisle Circus, Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue, Donegall Square and concluding at Linenhall Street. The parade will travel the same route in return from Linenhall Street beginning at around 5.15pm. Another parade will begin West Belfast Orange Hall and move along Shankill Road, Peters Hill, North Street and Royal Avenue to York Street. At 5.30pm the parade will return via the same route. In South Belfast, the parade will leave Ballynafeigh Orange Hall at 9.15am and proceed along the Ormeau Road and Snnadale Embankment, returning along the same route at around 5.30pm. In East Belfast, the main parade will commence at around 9.15am on Templemore Avenue moving along the Newtownards Road, Bridge End, Queens Quay and onto Station Street. The return parade, which will commence at around 5.30pm, will follow the same route in reverse. In Ballyclare, the Ballynure Road will be closed from around 10.30am, with further closures in and around the town centre in place from around 11.30am. These will remain until approximately 6pm. Motorists should expect delays and diversions during this time. The Antrim, the main parade will see Fountain Street closed to traffic from around 10.30am with further closures in the town in place between 11.30am and 7pm. Delays and disruption should be expected and those travelling, particularly those travelling to the airport, should seek an alternative route and allow additional time for travel. Appropriate signage will be in place. In Dundrum, traffic will be disrupted from around 9am with the main parade due to begin at 11.30am. Bands and supporters are expected to gather on Belfast Road before travelling along Main Street to Old Roadand onto Ballyloughlin Road. The return parade will begin at 4pm at Ballyloughlin Road and travel back to Belfast Road along the same route. There are also a number of smaller parades taking place in Newry, Ballynahinch, Armagh, Banbridge and Dromore which may cause some disruption for traffic. In Cookstown delays are to be expected as bands and participants assemble for the main demonstration at Grange Road at around 11am. The parade is then expected to begin at around midday, travelling from Grange Road onto Tullywiggan Road, then to Killymoon Street, Church Street, Chapel Street, Loy Street, James Street, William Street, Oldtown Street, Millburn Street, Moneymore Road and East Circular Road into the demonstration field. At around 3.30pm the parade will reform and proceed along the Moneymore Road, Milburn Street, Oldtown Street, Coagh Street, Union Street and into Molesworth Street for dispersal at around 5pm. A number of smaller feeder parades may also cause some traffic disruption in the wider Fermanagh and Omagh areas on Saturday. In Limavady disruption is to be expected in the town throughout the day with access to and from town centre carparks limited during parade times. The main parade begins at around 11am and will follow a route from Rathmore Road to Alexander Road and along Scroggy Road, Church Street, Ballyclose Street, Main Street, Linenhall Street, Catherine Street, Roemill Road, William Street, Protestant Street, Catherine Street, Irish Green Street, Roemill Gardens to Roemill Road and into the demonstration field. The parade will then reform at around 3.30pm and leave Roemill Road to proceed along William Street, Protestant Street, Catherine Street, Linenhall Street, Main Street to Ballyclose Street from which point on bands will break away at various points before the remaining participants carry on over Roe Bridge, Lisnakilly Road, Baranailt Road to disperse at Moneyrannel Road. Ahead of the demonstrations, a PSNI spokesperson said: “Officers will be on the ground at parade locations throughout NI to accommodate the flow of traffic and to help avoid unnecessary delays.
“Motorists and members of the public should follow any direction and advice given by police. We would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable day.”
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