Twelfth of July parades have taken place across Northern Ireland to mark the 333rd anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
The main loyal orders parades took place at 18 venues, including in Belfast, Bangor, Ballymena, Ballinamallard, and Magherafelt.
NI Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, was among those in attendance, joining a parade in the town of Lurgan, Armagh, taking to social media to call on people to show “respect and tolerance” with those holding views or traditions different to their own.
The Twelfth of July is an important cultural date enjoyed by many thousands across Northern Ireland.
Thank you to Co Armagh @OrangeOrder for the invitation and opportunity to view today’s parade in Lurgan.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/j1YCB4VTcd
— Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) July 12, 2023
However, there were criticisms of the enormous bonfires which have now become part of the events, and the use of same to burn images of Catholic or nationalist politicians.
The Orange Order estimated that half-a-million people were expected to participate or spectate in marches. Speaking to GB News, a group of women in Belfast called on people to “stop being negative” about the culture of some of Northern Ireland’s protestants, saying that those participating in the twelfth “are often looked down upon because of certain clips that have gone around.”
'Something has to change, stop being negative about the culture of the Ulster people!'
'We are often looked down upon because of certain clips that have gone around.'
Attendees of The Twelfth Parade in Belfast explain why they feel it is important to mark the occasion. pic.twitter.com/WysCDjuanP
— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 12, 2023
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said it received 147 emergency 999 calls between 6pm on Tuesday and 2am on Wednesday – a drop of 28% on last year, with the eleventh night remaining its busiest day of the year.
Last night, a man was transported to hospital after reportedly falling from a bonfire. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call shortly after 10pm following reports of an incident in Newtownards. The man, who was conscious and breathing, was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Another video posted to social media showed a separate incident of someone falling from a bonfire – with some using the video to argue that lessons remained unlearned by loyalist communities, following the death of John Steele (36) in Larne, after the father of two fell from a 50-foot-high bonfire.
And as if they didn't learn for the man falling last year and dying, this could have been another when are these bonfires that they call culture stop pic.twitter.com/PJcjvrsQqX
— Dáithí Ó Cathgalain (@DaveIphone215) July 11, 2023
While loyalists annually defended bonfire culture as something which celebrates identity and brings together communities, the burning of flags and posters on bonfires remains a source of division across the North, with Catholic commentators saying such actions denote sectarianism as opposed to culture.
Picture taken just now of Irish tricolours and posters of mother of two Michelle O'Neill, west Belfast MLA Aisling Reilly and newly elected Belfast City councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly placed on bonfire ready to burn in Forthriver, west Belfast.
Lovely celebration of culture. pic.twitter.com/MGQSMUkiGP— Kevin Campbell (@KevinCampSF) July 11, 2023
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson this week condemned the burning of Irish flags and effigies on bonfires – after An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s image was set alight along with an Irish flag in Moygashel, Co Tyrone.
A boat was also set on the bonfire with a sign saying “Good Friday Agreement? That ship has sailed.”
“If we want respect for our rights we have to respect the identity of others,” Mr Donaldson told BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme.
“I would say to anyone thinking of putting a flag or a poster on a bonfire: How do you feel when you see the union flag being burned on an internment bonfire?” he said.
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beattie took to Twitter to say the actions were “not acceptable,” adding “it is childish and promotes hate.”
“Again the many are let down by a few,” he added.
The UUP leader also took to social media today to share an image of the late Quinn brothers – who were killed in a firebomb attack on their home in Ballymoney by the UVF on 12 July 1998.
Mr Beattie said it was “right to stop and reflect on how intolerance and hate can bring out the worst in some” ahead of today’s celebrations – with unionists and nationalists alike paying their respects to the Quinn family.
It’s 25 years since the horrific murder of Jason, Mark and Richard Quinn.
As we begin our twelfth celebrations it is right to stop and reflect on how intolerance and hate can bring out the worst in some. pic.twitter.com/VmqanLfipZ
— Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) July 12, 2023
This morning, members of the local community joined together to remember the Quinn brothers, Richard (10), Mark (9), and Jason (8), 25 years on from their murder, releasing balloons in the sky next to the Quinn family at a memorial garden and children’s park which marks the place where they died.
Standing at the site where three little boys lost their lives 25 years ago today.
Richard (10), Jason (8) and Mark Quinn (9) were murdered in their beds in a sectarian petrol bomb attack on their Ballymoney home.A children’s park and memorial garden marks the place where… pic.twitter.com/EhnDwNCuOu
— Patricia Devlin (@trishdevlin) July 12, 2023