VIDEO: Flagship honour for Larne Twelfth

The town was one of three locations – along with Limavady and Markethill – in Northern Ireland to be accorded flagship status by the Grand Orange Lodge.

And there was a buzz of excitement in the air as the 70 lodges and 60 bands paraded through the town, led by a colourful pageant featuring King William on horseback.

Youngsters from the Larne Junior Lodge carried the banner at the head of the parade, which was hosted by Larne District LOL No 1 and welcomed brethren from Larne, Six Mile Water, Antrim, Staffordstown, Killead, Carrickfegus, Randalstown, Cloughfern and Carnmoney.

Before the demonstration reached the field at Sandy Bay playing fields, it stopped for six minutes in protest at the Parades Commission determination on the Ardoyne parade.

During the protest, Larne District Master Harry Carter read out a prepared statement, in which the Orange Order pledged to “continue the struggle to make Northern Ireland a better place by getting rid of the Parades Commission.”

For full coverage of the event, see the next edition of the Larne Times, on sale Wednesday, July 16.