Drumcree dispute: Orange Order and GRRC arrive for Hillsborough talks
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Members of the Portadown Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (GRRC) meet at Hillsborough Castle.
On October 1st, 2026, both parties arrived separately for further discussions on the Drumcree parading dispute.
The Orange Order delegation included Nigel Dawson, district master in Portadown, and loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.
GRRC chairman Breandán Mac Cionnaith expressed uncertainty about the outcome of the talks.
On Tuesday, the GRRC's legal bid to prevent a planned march was postponed until Monday, allowing for further negotiations.
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The dispute centers around a yearly Orange Order parade from Drumcree Church to the Garvaghy Road.
Protesters have blocked the Garvaghy Road, while the Orange Order maintains a presence at Drumcree Church.
Mac Cionnaith stated, "The British government know our position, and the Orange Order know ours."
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Earlier, Nigel Dawson described a discussion document shown to the Orange Order as "not a proposal."
The document, presented by Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant, proposed that the Orange Order legally march down the Garvaghy Road while the residents publicly accept their right to do so. In return, the Orange Order would agree not to walk down the road.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson supported the Orange Order's position.