The Five Demands

Un tripudio di colori, suoni e bombette sfilano nelle città e nei villaggi dell’Irlanda del Nord

Migliaia di orangisti si riversano oggi per le strade di città e villaggio dell’Irlanda del Nord, accompagnati da bande festanti, in celebrazione annuale del The Twelth.
Le manifestazioni di Hillsborough, Portrush, Cookstown, Newtownstewart e Antrim, sono state scelte quali celebrazioni ammiraglie. Ma ci saranno altre 13 parate minori in varie località della provincia: Ballymena, Ahoghill, Bushmills, Broughshane, Belfast, Lurgan, Ballygawley, Ballygowan, Brookeborough, Newtownards, Waringstown, Kilkeel e Garvagh.
The Twelfth stai ormai diventando fenomeno di costume di notevole interesse turistico, così come confermato dal Direttore del settore servizi dell’Orange Order, David Hume: “Sappiamo che più di mezzo milione di persone seguono gli eventi del The Twelfth e vi è prova evidente che un numero crescente di turisti pianifichino i viaggi in Irlanda del Nord in questo periodo dell’anno in modo da poter assistere alle sfilate.”
“Il turismo culturale è un settore in crescita e abbiamo deciso che l’Orange Order farà la sua parte nello sviluppo di questo settore”.
Lo scorso anno, circa 500.000 persone hanno partecipato alle celebrazioni in tutta la provincia, di cui 250.000 alla sola parata di Belfast.

Segue galleria fotografica

The Twelfth 2010

(immagini tratte dal Belfast Telegraph)

The Twelfth 2010 (Belfast Telegraph)
Hundreds of thousands of people are descending on towns and villages across Northern Ireland today for the annual Twelfth celebrations.
From Hillsborough to Broughshane, thousands of Orangemen have dusted off their bowler hats and sashes — while band members have practiced their last tunes — in anticipation of the grand festivities.
Under the rebranding of the Twelfth, five demonstrations — Hillsborough, Portrush, Cookstown, Newtownstewart and Antrim — have been selected as flagship celebrations. There will be 13 other smaller parades in various locations across the province — Ballymena, Ahoghill, Bushmills, Broughshane, Belfast, Lurgan, Ballygawley, Ballygowan, Brookeborough, Newtownards, Waringstown, Kilkeel and Garvagh — which will see thousands of Order members and supporters turn the streets into rivers of orange.
The flagship demonstrations aim to create a family-friendly atmosphere at the events, with help from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland.
Orange Order director of services, Dr David Hume, said: “We know that more than half a million people enjoy the Twelfth and there is hard evidence that an increasing number of tourists are planning trips to Northern Ireland at that time of year so they can see the parades.
“Many people time their visit just to see the Twelfth.
“All of our parades are very important and we will be working with all the organisers to maximise the positive impact of the Twelfth parades. But Grand Lodge decided we should put extra special effort into five flagship demonstrations this year.
“Cultural tourism is a growing industry and we are determined that the Orange Order will play its part in developing this sector.
“We have built a strong relationship with the tourist authorities. They are the professionals and we have listened to their advice so that we can enhance what is available to the public.”
Last year, an estimated 500,000 people attended celebrations across the province, with 250,000 at the Belfast parade alone.
Orangefest, on behalf of the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast, and Belfast City Centre Management have been working on opening shops for over three years in partnership with the city council, transport authorities, the police and other stakeholders.
William Humphrey, deputy chairman of Orangefest, said: “The Twelfth is now a major tourist attraction in the Northern Ireland calendar.
“We know that as well as local people, there are many others who time their visits to coincide with the celebrations.”