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More than 1,000 Orangemen from Mourne District LOL No. 6 will partake in one of the most scenic Twelfth parades in Northern Ireland.
The magnificent backdrop of the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea provide the perfect setting for the procession.
The 15 lodges on parade will be accompanied by their own bands, adding to the special family atmosphere on the day in the Co. Down coastal town of Kilkeel.
It is anticipated that more than 1,700 Orangemen, women, juniors and bandsmen and women will take part in this year's parade, cheered on by a crowd in excess of 3,000 people.
This year, it is the turn of Annalong Single Star LOL 1330 to lead the District Parade. They will be joined at the head of the parade by members of the largest Junior Lodge – Mourne District.
The Kilkeel Lodges leave Kilkeel Orange Hall at 11am to parade the 1.5 miles to the Leestone Road on the outskirts of the town. There, they join with the remainder of the District and return to Kilkeel finishing at Queen Elizabeth II Park on the Manse Road.
Friends and family join the Brethren in the field for a picnic. Following the refreshments, the Platform Proceedings begin at 2.15pm.
The guest speaker at Kilkeel will be Bro. John McKee. Also on the platform will be Mourne District Officers, Worshipful District Master, Bro. William Baillie; Deputy District Master, Bro. James Morris; District Chaplain, Bro. Eric Niblock; District Secretary, Bro. Stephen Nicholson; and District Treasurer Bro. William Burns.
The District will leave to commence the homeward parade at 4pm.
Mourne District LOL No. 6 rotates the Twelfth on a four-year cycle, with Kilkeel the venue every other year The cycle is Kilkeel, Annalong, Kilkeel, Ballymartin, Kilkeel, etc.
The last Twelfth in Kilkeel was a socially distanced version of the parade in 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic.
The Twelfth Demonstration is a family event with 14 of the Lodges parading with their own bands. The Lodges span the Kingdom of Mourne from the Silent Valley LOL 263 at foot of the Mournes to Cranfield LOL 907 overlooking the mouth of Carlingford Lough to Annalong LOL 342, LOL 1330 and LOL 1702.
Some of our lodges are celebrating significant milestones this year with Derryogue Defenders LOL 424 and Brunswick LOL 1702 are celebrating 200 years from their foundations Ballymartin Guiding Star of Freedom LOL 1456 and Glenloughan Loyal Sons of Ulster LOL 1914 celebrating 150 years. These lodges will be having their own celebratory events throughout the year.
