‘WWI soldiers’ to lead Twelfth parade in Maguiresbridge

FIRST World War soldiers dressed in period costume will head this year’s County Fermanagh Twelfth parade, to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and honour veterans of all religions who took part.

A total of 15 Fermanagh Districts – Enniskillen, Kinawley, Glenawley, Ballinamallard, Lisnarick, Pettigo, Magheraboy, Churchill, Maguiresbridge, Garrison, Tempo, Newtownbutler, Lisbellaw, Brookeborough, Lisnaskea and the host district, Maguiresbridge – will be accompanied by a wide variety of impressive local marching bands, comprising every musical genre.

As is tradition, visiting lodges from the South – representing Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan – will join with 90 private lodges, members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen and approximately 70 bands in one of the larger demonstrations across the North.

Lodges and bands will move off at 12.30pm from the assembly point at Killyshambley on the Tempo Road before proceeding through the village to the demonstration field on the Lisnaskea Road.

The platform proceedings and religious service will commence at 2.30pm. The formalities will be chaired by the most senior Orangeman in the county, Fermanagh County Grand Master Stuart Brooker. The guest speaker will be Abraham Storey, County Cavan Grand Chaplain.

County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge has a reputation for hosting various groups at the Twelfth, and this year will be no different. A number of cross-party MPs and support staff from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster will be in attendance.

The last time the Twelfth was held in Maguiresbridge was in 2006.

Police have issued traffic and travel information for motorists during tomorrow’s parade. All Bands and Lodges will emerge from the assembly field on the Tempo Road across the A4 and proceed to the Demonstration on the Lisnaskea side of the village.

Traffic will be diverted at the following locations:

Dublin Road/Tempo Road, Enniskillen via Tempo to Fivemiletown to re-join the A4
Fivemiletown at the Clabby Road via the Clabby Road to Tempo and onwards to Enniskillen
Lisnaskea at Gola Road: Traffic wishing to travel to Enniskillen will be diverted via along the Gola Road
Belfast bound traffic will travel along the B515 Nuffield Road to Brookeborough and on towards Ballygawley

Motorists are also requested to respect areas identified for disabled parking around the village.

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