Twelfth details for Ballymena, Broughshane and Cullybackey

Ballymena is the only town in Northern Ireland which has a Twelfth demonstration every year and in 2011 Mr Wilson will join the 30 lodges from the district as they take part in the Twelfth.

The lodges and about 20 bands will assemble on the Larne Road at 12.30pm and parade through the town via Harryville Bridge, Bridge Street, Church Street, Broughshane Street, Cushendall Road and to the demonstration field on Ballygarvey Road.

There are about 1,000 Orangemen in the district and the parade will be led by Ballygarvey LOL 754, accompanied by the Ballee Blues and Royals flute band.

A religious service at 3pm will be conducted by Rev. Ian McLean, a Grand Chaplain, and then Mr Wilson will address the crowd.

Pipes go on parade

In nearby Broughshane, the 12 Lodges of Braid district will gather in the village for the second year in a row.

It is one of the smallest parades of the day with 400 Orangemen taking part but the Braid Twelfth is always a big attraction for visitors and tourists, who are staying in the area.

Broughshane has stacked up numerous awards and the village is well known throughout Northern Ireland for its pristine appearance. This year will be no different as the villagers have worked hard to make it a beautiful location for the Twelfth.

The parade starts at mid-day at Raceview Road and goes through the village to the demonstration field at Caherty Roa led by the host lodge – Buckna LOL 487.

A new band – Broughshane and District Pipe Band – has recently been formed and everyone will be looking out for them on their first Twelfth. They have almost 30 members and should prove extremely popular.

The speaker at the religious service, which starts at 2.30pm, will be Rev. Ron Johnston, Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church and a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland. Guest speaker will be Dr. David Hume, Director of Services of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

The message from the organisers in Broughshane is to come early and book your spot along what will be a route packed with spectators.

Sham fight at Cullybackey

Over in Cullybackey, 16 lodges will take part in the Triangle Parade. In other years, Ahoghill and Portglenone are the venues for the demonstration.

If you like lambeg drums, Cullybackey is the venue to be at this year as there will be at least nine of the huge drums on parade and there is always the prospect of a few impromptu drumming sessions throughout the day.

The parade starts, at 1pm from the Ard-namaine Housing Estate near Cullybackey Railway Station and moves through the village before turning right into Shellinghill Road and Tober Park.

Cullybackey District lead the parade, accompanied by Glenhugh Flute Band.

The demonstration field is at the Cullybackey Community Centre and is expected to begin at 3pm.

The District Lay Chaplain Harry McCloy will be the chairman for the proceedings and local man Samuel Richard Mackay, district chaplain, will return from London where he is a pastor to preach the sermon.

There will be a number of events held in Cullybackey in the week leading up the Twelfth. The biggest of these will be a re-enactment of the Battle of the Boyne – a Cullybackey Sham Fight. This will take place on Saturday, July 9 at 4pm in a field on Carndonaghy Road.