Drumcree: Orange Order Parade Dispute Continues as Main Players Hold Talks
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
BBC News Menu
- Home
- Climate
- World
- UK
- Business
- Tech
- Science
- Entertainment & Arts
- Health
- In Pictures
BBC Verify
Newsbeat
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Politics
Orange Order Parade Dispute Continues After Main Players Hold Talks
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Orangemen have tried a number of times to walk their route down the Garvaghy Road.
By Jayne McCormack, political correspondent, and Mark Simpson, community correspondent, BBC News NI
Published 28 September 2026, 06:47 BST
Updated 3 minutes ago
The main parties involved in a parading dispute in Northern Ireland remain deadlocked, as talks to resolve the issue continue.
Members of the Orange Order are still waiting to begin their permitted parade, which was scheduled for Sunday morning, and walk down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown. Protesters blocked the road at the weekend, and after meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant, a representative of the residents said the Orange Order should consider an alternative route.
The Drumcree parade, which had been due to go ahead for the first time in 30 years following legal challenges, sparked some of the most severe disorder in Northern Ireland's history in the 1990s. Since 1998, the Orange Order had been banned from completing its Drumcree march by the Parades Commission, an entity established to adjudicate such disputes.
The Orange Order is a Protestant pro-British organization, while the Garvaghy Road, specifically, is largely Catholic and predominantly inhabited by pro-Irish nationalists.
As of 20:30 BST, crowd numbers had increased on the Garvaghy Road, with approximately 300 to 400 people gathered. Traditional musicians have set up stalls, and those present are joining in songs.
What's happening now?
What is the Garvaghy Road dispute all about?
Published 3 days ago
- Talks with secretary of state: The protesters on the Garvaghy Road were joined by members of Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) throughout the day on Sunday.
- Protesters joined by political figures: Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill joined the protest, prompting accusations from the Democratic Unionist Party that she was acting unlawfully.
- Secretary of State's appeal for compromise: Sir Chris Bryant urged both sides to "double down on compromise." He stated that "nobody should be attending an unlawful protest" but added it was not his role "to decide whether somebody has or hasn't broken the law."
- Talks between Orange Order and Secretary of State: The two most senior members of Portadown Orange Order met Sir Chris at Hillsborough Castle on Monday. They described the hour-long talks as "constructive."
- Orange Order's intention to walk down Garvaghy Road: District Master Nigel Dawson confirmed their intent to walk down the Garvaghy Road, emphasizing the need for "the law to be applied."
- Call for police intervention: Democratic Unionist Party MP Carla Lockhart, who has been with the Orange Order members in Drumcree, urged police to ensure the parade can proceed. She stressed that "mob rule" cannot win.
- Residents' perspective: Breandán Mac Cionnaith, from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, suggested that the Orange Order use their outward route to Drumcree Church as their return route rather than the Garvaghy Road. He expressed openness to mediation but did not trust the Orange Order.
Following a meeting with Sir Chris, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald stated that while her party remains concerned for the community, they need reassurance that they can "breathe easy again" after the march did not go ahead.