2012 The Twelfth

Had hair good morning from the centre of Belfast and welcome to

our coverage hot the Twelfth. The spectators have been gathering

along a strip for the past couple of powers and perhaps you'll get

the chance to speak to some of them later. We are alive for the next

hour and a quarter to mark what is the 322nd anniversary of the Battle

of the Boyne. We will have lots more from the parade in Belfast in

just a moment but let us hear over to Carrickfergus to join up with

Ralph McLean. I am in Carrickfergus for one of the big flagship

demonstrations and this is working William arrived in 1690 and in June

of that year he made his way to the boy and so it is significant. The

town is playing host to the east Antrim combine with something like

60 bands from across the UK. The parade will be led by King William

himself with a troop of pikemen in full costume. That will be with us

at the castle in 45 minutes but for now, back to the City Hall in

Belfast and David O'Reilly... The grounds of the City Hall open to

the public for a range of family friendly activities with food

stalls showcasing local produce, cookery demonstrations and street

theatre from the Festival of Fools and the shops are open from noon. I

will be here later on the show but now it's time to handover to our

commentator this morning, Walter Love... Good morning from the

commentary position on the corner of Ormeau Avenue as the parade

makes its way along Bedford Street, en route to the field at Barnett's

Demesne. There are demonstrations across the province today but in

Belfast, nine districts are taking place, something like 60 it banned.

Of which, 23 are from Scotland. -- 68 band us. Very colourful. --

bands. The parade is going down Clifton Street and Donegall Street

into Royal Avenue, Donegall Place and past the City Hall, the

Cenotaph, up the Dublin Road, into the Lisburn Road all the way to

Balmoral Avenue, turning left and then to the field at Barnett's

Demesne. As Helen said, the streets are packed with people who have

been here for a couple of hours on a very good sunny morning. Despite

the terrible summer we have had, today is a very good day, not much

wind, good sunshine and not much of a breeze. I am joined this morning

by Professor David Fitzpatrick from Trinity College Dublin, who has

written extensively about the Orange Order and is working on a

book on its history. How far back as the Belfast parade go?

Incredibly, we have records from 7097 onwards, 250 years ago. In the

newsletter, there was a report after Twelfth July about Orangemen

assembling early in the morning, going through the streets with

music playing and drums and colours flying. Different devices such as a

painting of King William on horseback and an numerous body of

people along Linenhall Street. It was nobbled to have numerous groups

of girls arranged and walking in procession, many of whom have come

from different parts of the country. Even then, there was a hint of

Orange festival spirit. It goes back in history. It is interesting

how things have changed. You have come from Dublin to join us and the

Orange Order has been down to Dublin recently? The Secretary had

the opportunity to address this an end and given an -- an excellent

address. -- the Seanad. Even opposition parties have recognised

the Orange Order has been something cultural from the North and South.

Here we are, the Shankill Road loyal Orange Lodge. Passing by at

the moment. Flanked by the Ulster and the Union flag. This is the

oldest lodge in the district. First It is always an amazing spectacle

with all the colour and the sounds of the bands, one giving way to the

next and some very big bands in the parade. The music is essential.

has always been a major part of the processions right from the start of

the The style changes and unsafe. There would have been some side

drums and the Fife in the earlier days and later on, pipe bands,

accordion bands and the like. Today, mainly flute bands. As what you

mentioned, there is a large proportion from Scotland today.

Many of those bands were not be composed of Orangemen but people

from a much broader function than merely playing on the Twelfth. Part

of what is sometimes called the broader Unionist family. 1963. Just

passing us by. And bringing to an end, distant number nine and then

back to district number one. Medium-sized. 15 Lodges with seven

bands today. District number one is led by the District Master Robert

Gardner and the Deputy Master, This is always a very popular place

to watch the parades. Orangemen of all ages take part in the parades.

He and it is, a very distinguished writer, he has commented on the

past been saying -- seeing his first parade? -- Louis MacNeice. He

spoke of this as one of the most extraordinary sights and the world

and he said he was going to Belfast to broadcast. One of the most

extraordinary sights in the world. In Carrickfergus. When he reported

on that procession, he said it was crazy, banners depicting Sanson

fighting the Lion, the storming, Lord back and say it, lots of local

work and so it continues. -- Beconsfield. Today, still, very

much the colour and spectacle he would have witnessed. In Bedford

Street, in the crowds, we have Helen... Grant Dillon, tell me

about yourself and what particular Orange Lodge do you represent?

6, East Belfast. Maya Lodge, it is quite unusual with the white

collarette and the crimson. We were formed in the 1930s from survivors

of World War One. Why do have such different colours? We originally

had the traditional collarette and because of the World War One

connection, with the Battle of the Somme, we had a prominent remembers

with the white collarette and the crimson. It is quite unique.

have been urging for many years. Somebody said 30? Not possibly

that? Probably more than 30, when I was in the junior Orange Lodge. 30

years of pounding the streets of Belfast, yes. You must have gone

through a lot of shoe leather. You will have seen a lot of changes?

The biggest change would have been the types of band that parade,

there is the demise of pipe bands very colourful and enjoyable day.

Europe and is at the back of the parades are you can still stand and

watch as they go by and then catch up? -- you're banned. -- your band

is. Along with another large, we have a band from Scotland. It is a

very enjoyable day. It is a great family day and it gets more and

more enjoyable. Do enjoy it. We welcome back to you. There are

still here with district number one. Very smartly turned out. And many

of them in military style clothing? The roots of Orangeism was that

connection with the militia back in 7097. And there has been that

Bellucci influence but interestingly, modified and

Orangemen Spiegel going for a walk and not marching and they do not

follow formal protocol. -- Orangemen speak of. Although they

would carry swords, they are not for military purposes but they're

decorative. The umbrellas have replaced so words? There they

probably replaced walking sticks around 1912 to show respectability.

That was the year of the bowling had and the walking stick.

Replacing the more military influences from the past. This

gives us a lovely view right down the length of Bedford Street. With

a mixture of the buildings from the past and present. On the right-hand

side, the Ulster Hall. What was it that, the old you its building. --

Ewarts. And then the Linenhall Library. Again, we are still with

district number one. Lots of families come to watch the parade

here in this part of Belfast. The law would stock Ulster Scots

band.. -- Lower Stockman.s. It is a good distance right up to the field,

Barnett's Demesne. Officially, they say five miles. Then, of course,

after the demonstration at the field, there is the walk back.

Which is often more difficult than walking down. In the past,

Orangemen would have to go at least seven miles out of town, sometimes

in the pouring rain, to have their entertainment in the field. Orange

lilies. Traditional. The date back to a very early period when the

decorations were less obvious than today. They had those costumes

which many spectators wear and the Union flags. Rosettes and poppies.

I am told that these types of lily which are in use, they're different

from today. Very smart turn out on Now, we're going to take you

further away from here to the City I am going to do my best. There is

a break in the music so I can talk to Andrew Irvine. Tell the people

about the festivities at city hall? City centre management has been

working with the Chamber of Commerce to open up the city centre

once the parade passes at 12pm. The elements of that this year is the

food market which is just in front of me in the grounds of City Hall.

Also Festival of Fools are out entertaining all afternoon. Really

family focused entertainment. Fantastic. How does the preparation

of for an event like this differ from other things that happen in

the grounds of City Hall during the year? The major issue is food for.

This is the largest, singles at four event for the city centre on

any day of the year. I have always been keen that the shops do not

keep their shutters down. Retail should take advantage of this. For

the vast majority of retailers, it is a fairly normal day of the

calendar. We are lucky at the moment because people are watching

the parade, but the food hall will get very busy since. Who is the key

target? This is about opening up the event, not only to tourists,

who we need to provide for, but also for the people of Belfast. A

good proportion of our population want nothing to do with the parade,

but as a city we need to have a neutral space. So the activities in

the afternoon, the food market, the street performers, I want to appeal

to everybody across Belfast no matter what your background. This

place is a neutral city and very This logic was originally formed in

It is harder, I suppose, to say just how many Orangemen are on the

street today. There must be many thousands. There would have been

far more in the distant past. There were up to 20,000 members in

Belfast and probably 300 lodges. This was at the peak of the

organisation after the Great War. Falls Road Methodist Lodge. Then

Belfast Harbour Lodge. It goes back to 1896. And that points to the

fact that so many Orange lodges are associated with particular churches.

Also particular trades. Particular walks in life. We're coming to the

end of the district number ones. It is a day for young and old.

Plenty of enthusiasm and energy. is certainly a time for action, it

is all noise and movement. We are moving to district number two. It

has ten lodges in the parade today, accompanied by three bands. Ronald

Walker, it is his first year as The strong Scottish presence in the

plans is very interesting. It points to the strength of Orangeism

in Scotland. In many parts of the world it has become a much smaller

movement. We are going over to Helen Mark again who has more

visitors to talk to. Such a grand array of bans going pastas at the

moment. Let me introduce the Reverend Mervyn Gibson. We meet on

this corner every year. People will begin to talk! How are you feeling

now that the parade is underway? is great. Lovely weather, at a

great crowd, a good days so far. You are watching the bans as they

go past. You must recognise a lot of faces. We have over 23 bands

from Scotland. There will be 62 bans in this parade from Belfast

alone. Let me introduce Sean Collins, he is the former mayor of

Drogheda. The Rev and invites you to come along every year? That is

right. And it is an enjoyable way of celebrating what happened.

heard that for many years, you have been inviting Orange men down to

the Boyne and doing what down there? Basically taking them of --

on a tour on historical sites. When William and James decided to fight

their, they made it one of the most historic areas in the island of

Ireland. Since 1978 I had been meeting with groups at the boy in

the summer all traditions. -- at the Boyne. How do they respond to

being there and you taking them round? I always suggest to them I

can tell them whichever version that they want, the Catholic

version, the Protestant religion or the truth! As your own famous

comedian once said, you won the battle, but we got the River! And

we are holding on to it. The it is lovely to have you with us. I hope

you both enjoy the rest of the day. It always interests me how a parade

like this is organised because we sometimes expect to see the head of

the parade here at 10:30am, but I am sure they have a tight schedule

to fit two. It all looks so very smoothly through the streets,

occasionally there is a momentary pause and then they move on again.

It is moving very smoothly this morning. Perfect conditions. Some

very colourful spectators to enjoy the spectacle. Everybody seems to

be having a good time at the moment. At times the songs can seem

overwhelming. But as you say, there is order through it all. At this

point, it District number-two is giving way to district number three

which has 14 lodges. And there will be four bands and one ladies

district as well. This district has the 36th Ulster Division large. The

flags were made by the Royal School of needlework in 1937, dedicated to

the memory of the men from their There is the colour for the days.

There is a much more casual approach, but it is still very

smart. It is quite a change from the demure clothing of the past.

will hand you back now to the grounds of the city hall.

We are out on the street outside the city hall. Jonathan Bell and

former Lord Mayor Jim Rogers joined me. You have walked down here?

have come all the way from East Belfast. It is a great day, people

are here from all over the world. How much of what is going on here

is a first for the city centre? shops have been open for a number

of years. It brings so much to Northern Ireland. There are

thousands of people here, people come from all over the world. The

festival, and the additional entertainment puts us on the world

map. It is one of the greatest festivals in the world. Is this

more about appealing to people already here or attracting a new

audience? We would like to see a brand new audience as well as an

existing ones. People are here from all walks of life. As I walk

through the streets this morning, it was interesting to see members

from the Roman Catholic community that I know personally. That is

what we want to see. This is a day for everybody. We want to see

Northern Ireland going from strength to strength and all of us

except in each other's religion, culture and political views rather

than having all this fighting. It is not in the interest of any one

to have a fights in the street. We want people to really enjoy

themselves. It is great to have the shops opening for its fourth year.

We have the food hall for the first time in the grounds of the city

hall. This should go on and on. know you gentlemen will be joining

the parade very soon. We prayed in to St Anne's Cathedral and joined

the main parade. Now you can see here something rather interesting.

There are not usually many floats in this period, but in recent years

there has been one. There is certainly this year. Afloat

celebrating the centenary of the Ulster Covenant. This is a

significant part of the commemoration. Yes, the Orange

Order was a major player in arranging the Coddenham. -- the

Continent. I think I saw Lord Laird at their. There is one of these

temporary pauses in the parade, this does happens. It has got a

little bit to go. One of the oldest lodges in the district is one for

five, Royal York. -- 145. Here we go. The float is now making its way,

commemorating the centenary of the signing of the Covenant. We have

managed to persuade it Lord Laird to get down off the float and talk

to me for a moment. We do not see many floats in the parade, but this

was a special opportunity to have a theme on the float. This is the 100

per anniversary of the covenant. We have a float about it and I am

dressed of that someone -- as someone from 1912. It is very

dapper. I think you rather enjoy getting dressed up like this.

always enjoy the 12th. It is a great family day out! There are

many bands going past. Are you marching days over? We love it. It

is great to see so many people out, so many families, to us, it is a

great day for assault. Why do you want to have a float in the parade

when we are so used to the bans. We like to give people something to

think about. We want to remind people about the 100 anniversary of

the signing of the Covenant. He is a very important thing. I will need

to let you go because you have to catch up with the float before it

The Shankill potters and boys food band, one of the biggest in the

parade with something like 100 There is a ladies' district here.

What about Orange women? There is evidence of Lodges for women from

1801. There was a large-scale organisation until 1912. But for

the last century, there has been a significant number involved in the

sister organisation, the Orange women. Coming up now, the Aneglo

Davidson Lodge. And the Queen Victoria temperance Lodge. It

changed its name to the present one following the death of Queen

Victoria. There were many banners for Queen Victoria. On the moment

of her death, that image could appear on a banner. We have not

into Carrickfergus for a little while and we will now go over to

Ralph McLean... The sun is beating down in Carrickfergus and I'm in

danger of getting tanned. Who would have thought? The people are

gathered in the streets. It is a very big day. This is a massive

day? The fantastic. We have the weather and the crowds. It is a

great location. I mentioned the East Antrim Combine, a here for the

first time in one decade. Where are people coming from? A approximately

80 Lodges and the first this too would be from Randalstown. And then

Carrickfergus itself. And the area surrounded. Quite an extensive area,

very large Orange community in this area. And the fantastic parade,

usually. A great mix of dance. know better setting. Here with the

noise in the background as people get ready but there is a real party

atmosphere and it is great to welcome loads of people to the town

on a day like this? I was walking round and there are a lot of

Scottish accents and lots of people from the local area also. Fantastic

numbers and it is a very historic venue with King William coming here

in June 1690. All the special than the Orange Order Costa

Carrickfergus. It is always about welcoming people, there is a chance

to welcome people from all over to celebrate what is a real festival

on a day like this? Yes, this is one of the flagship areas, along

with Ballynahinch and Enniskillen. We have Flagship hosts giving out

leaflets and talking to people and welcoming visitors and I have seen

then an operation and an delighted that we have trained them in other

venues. Carrickfergus has a fantastic team of people out and

about to welcome everybody. The atmosphere is fantastic. We are

looking forward to a very big day and you are looking forward to it

and the sun shining. Absolutely, it is fantastic and I am looking

forward to today. Whenever my lodge comes down. Brilliant. Thank you

very much and enjoy the day. Let's go back to Belfast... Thank you. He

is basking in sunshine. The Sun has disappeared a little bit over here.

But it is a perfect day. Looking down the street, this is a wind

tunnel between the tall buildings. It can be very breezy and I am sure

very difficult to control the banners? Not too bad today. The

perfect day, really. In the past, the banners would have been even

larger than today and you not only had two people carrying them but up

to six boys trying to control the movement. The banner we are looking

at was William on the horse. The Prince of Orange. It is best known

as the Prince by its members and they are originally from Donegal

Road, Sandy Row. This was one of many temperance Lodges and at one

time two-fifths of all Belfast Orangemen were either from

temperance or total abstinence lodges. Not too many of those left.

Members have to take the pledge. The Temperance is one when they do

not drink in the Lodge hall. District number four. One of the

smaller districts. Nine Lodges and four bands. And the head of

district number four... Elgin lodge. Named after the Lord vice

Chancellor of England? For the Conservatives. This lodge used to

be a political powerhouse of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland.

And a great many politicians in the past, Sir James Craig, Brian

Faulkner, they belonged to it as well a senior members of the

judiciary. At one time they chose not to take part in the procession

but to go separately. With his own tent. And as to look again up

towards Bedford Street, Helen is still in the crowd? It is

tremendous to welcome international visitors to come and see the

parades in the streets. Please introduce yourselves... IM from

Bangladesh and this is my wife. On holiday? Yes. One holiday. It is

very hard to here sometimes with this great noise of the bands

create. What is your impression of the parade as it goes past? It is a

wonderful festival. The best one I have seen in my life. I have never

had this experience in my life. But so people say, take part. It is

amazing. It is lovely to hear this being called a festival. Patricia.

You have invited her boyfriend bus- top had used in the parades before?

I have not seen them live. I have just seen the bad press coverage

that this sometimes gets so I decided to come down and see it for

myself. One our impressions? thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had

heard about the parades but I had never seen one live. I heard things

about them back in England so I did not know what to expect. Everybody

is having fun, young and old and everybody is having a great time.

Are you going to propose to Patricia in the midst of the

parade? Live on television? I think we believe that one for another

day! I am sorry if I embarrass you. Thanks very much! Back to Walter

Love... Thank you. We can do certain things on this programme

but not others! A very nice you looking down at the junction of

Ormeau Avenue and Bedford Street. Young enthusiasts. I like those

sunglasses are! Very colourful Indeed. Lots of energy. Others are

simply happier to just spectate from the sidewalk. There are quite

a few changes in the style of sash. What determines the difference?

the Sash is much larger. It goes sideways across the shoulders. It

is said that the shortage of silk during the Great War was

responsible for popularising the smaller, cheaper collarette. Just

as that led to the smaller banners being secured. We have seen one or

two lodges, including Lord Laird's Lodge wearing the sashes. Today, it

is usually the correct that my father wore! -- collarette.

great colour, as has been said, people have commented on that. It

is a very colourful spectacle. in the past, processions like this

could have been seen, Masonic processions, Hibernian, who and

similar banners would have been on display. As with trade unions and

gilts. This is one of the few surviving spectacles of that kind.

A and we can now go back down the street and to David O'Reilly at the

City Hall... I have been broadcasting for 40 minutes and I

have demanded an meal break and were better than this food stall

outside the city hall. Michelle Shirlow, tell us what you have

going on? What's going on, local food for people visiting Belfast

and the tourists and one special thing at the then it is the Titanic

menu because we have found that tourists are very interested in

Belfast's heritage around Titanic and we're doing something different,

not just first class but second class and third class. If people

want to come and have a sample and find out how people ate on the

Titanic, we can teach them about that. And today is a very Northern

Irish day. What are the local foods that you are proud of telling

people about? We are very proud to have things like Armagh Bramley

apples, which has been turned into this Waldorf pudding. And the

Bramley apple has special European status as well, just like the

Comber potatoes and Lough Neagh deals. Food culture in Northern

Ireland is taking off. And porridge oats all the way from Armagh. That

is a very healthy alternative and that was served to all classes. But

there are trainers around here with local B. Some people selling salmon

and that is from Glenarm. There is a great variety of local food and

lovely deserts and traditional trade bakes. It would not be

Northern Ireland if there was no sweet stuff at the end. People are

usually used to burgers and ice- cream. It is very nice to see some

vegetarian options and all sorts of other staff at the food stall. I

will try some of this wine jelly. On the job but we will keep that

quiet. Back to Walter Love... I am glad to know that the food stalls

will be staying open later and we will have an opportunity to go to

that. We are moving into one of the biggest distance. No. 5. That is

Sandy Row. And it has 28 Lodges. 15 plants. And there is a ladies'

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

Tied to just sit back and relax and It certainly creates a great deal

of atmosphere? The Mesic is an essential ingredient. And there is

a very famous couple in the crowd! There is something odd about the

music. Although all of those people involved normally know the words to

most of the tunes, they hardly ever sing. That is something to explore,

maybe? But the music... It must be very energising to people. I'm sure

a lot of people who are not used to walking for five miles, perhaps?

The bands have always been essential in the military world and

very important in religion as well. The Salvation Army. Always as a way

of getting people to move together. To combine. Music is that it's

essential ingredient. The district five, they have that a banner read.

And Sandy Row, of course, has an honoured place in Orangeism. The

first purpose-built Orange Hall was built in Belfast in 1868. And it

was replaced in 1910 and one of those very famous sights, the site

where it is said that King William's troops reportedly camped

Everything would suggest the history of the Boyne, and William's

arrival was part of orange folklore. I hesitate to say that they are

treated like the relics of saints. Sandy Row Orange ladies district

number one was founded in 1912 by the member of a very well known

Sandy Row family. This year marks the centenary of their founding.

The family responsible for a great proportion of the banners in the

past, they no longer exist. We are going back again to Helen Mark.

am sure you will recognise my next guest, Mark Wilson he is a great

drummer and percussionist and a presenter of an Ulster Scots

programme. Welcome. Tell me, what are your thoughts about the music

in the parade this year? There seems to be a lot of people really

enjoying their music. For me, that is the most important thing. The

musical standard is really high. One or two may need a little more

practice. I think there has been an improvement over the years. There

has. The improvement in the marching standard of that bands and

the appearance have helped that bands look a lot better. Deportment

has improved immeasurably. But the musical standard as well, I would

like to see it improve even more. What about the tunes they are

playing? I was really surprised earlier on tour here a band playing

a pop tune. -- to hear a band. I heard another band playing at

Yankee doodle Dandy. All sorts of music, all sorts of tunes being

incorporated. It is quite hard surely, you're in your band, you

have to keep your mind on the you tune. That is the thing that the

good bands would be able to do. You need to focus on how the whole band

sounds, not just be a little island by yourself. You need to think as a

band, and the bands who do that, signed the best. More young

defenders, excellent. The best band I had seen today. You must have

recognised a few faces going past, you did a lot of drum up tutoring

over the years. Bided to To a lot of the guys here today. -- I

tutored a lot of the guys here today. I know you take your

drumming skills all over Europe, never forget to come back to

Belfast and get our dramas surrounding their best. Quite an

achievement, being able to carry on a conversation with such an

incredibly strong musical I think it is true to say that the

bans are smarter than ever this year. -- at the bands. They seemed

in good order even though the 11th Night has not long past. I am not

sure how you can keep that sort of energy up all the way to the field

and back again. I hope they manage I suspect that as we have said this

morning, that the military style of bands is possibly even more popular

these days. Despite the changing character of that bands, it has

survived and shown continuity from 1799 onwards. But what has changed

is that bands over the last century had become more professional, not

exactly professional, but much more organised and it has led to a

higher standard of performance. What always strikes me is the size

of the band. One Banda was up to 100 members, quite an achievement

I would imagine the cost of equipping a band with instruments

and uniform it is quite considerable today. It was always a

major cost. Ind times when many Orangemen were not well-off, it was

very difficult for it particular This is the view as we look along

the Dublin Road. Then they have got a long run up the Lisburn Road.

They will then end up at the field. At the field there is a religious

service. There are a number of speeches and a religious service.

Not often very well attended, and that has been reported from the

earliest times. People came to relax in the field, and only a few

hundred would actually listen to the speech. But there was still

something comforting about the speeches, much the same year after

year, delivered by clergy or sometimes a distinguished speaker.

That is quite an impressive band in A game, the occasional pause as

they make their way. Inevitable with so many people involved. So

many bans for -- so many bands, so many people. Very often those cars

will have a special number plate. Interesting point, on many of the

banners which have a portrait of King William, he is on a white

charger. That is not historically correct, is it? We do not really

know what the colour of his horse was. We know some early Flemish

paintings that often it was depicted as a grey charger. The

notion, with all its religious connotations of purity and a virtue,

of a white horse was popularised in the late eighteenth-century. That

has become iconic for Orange men. Most of the banners we see of King

William at the Boyne, they are renditions of Benjamin West. Things

take place a little bit later in Carrickfergus. Things are moving

ahead. You can see the parade coming towards us. I am joined by

the man who knows all about it, the district master Jim a clerk. You

must be proud today? I'm am. This is a fantastic day. Great party

atmosphere. This is something you were very proud of? This is

something that the Orange Institution has done over the last

five years. We have tried to encourage people to come and enjoy

themselves. We see all the stalls around us, there are people playing

games, there is a festival atmosphere. What is happening here

tomorrow in this harbour? This is the place where King William

arrived on his way to the Boyne. Tomorrow it will be the place to

be? Tomorrow we will have a re- enactment of the siege of the

castle and the landing of King William. On Saturday we have a

walking tour of the town. We have a continental market here until

Saturday as well. The celebrations for or the Twelfth do not stock

today, they carry on until Sunday. We have had six weeks of events and

it would like to assign all the organisers. Today will be a massive

day. This is the first time in ten years that we have had it here.

I am only too glad to be district master to welcome all my friends.

We have bands from Scotland and further afield. People are here to

enjoy themselves today. Along day for you today? I will probably be

free about midnight tonight. But I love it, I would not be anywhere

else. You said earlier on about King William landing here, it is

just like that wealth has come back to where it belongs. -- that the

Twelfth. 2012 is a special year for one than

taking part in the Carrickfergus When we think about the music of

the Orange Order, flutes and drums We are a silver band. We have got

more orchestral brass instruments than the most are familiar with.

Not your normal fruits or accordion is. -- flutes. It takes quite a bit

to learn how to play the instruments and then put that into

practice and play together as a group. You have a wide range of

ages here? We do. Primary school children, right through to people

young at heart. There are a few silver bands around, but not many

that parade. Not in this area Founded in 1882, they're

celebrating their 130 of the anniversary this year. The band

started in 1882. The lodge members got together and decided they would

like to form a band took the lead in the local parades. It is a big

day, the Twelfth, what does it mean to you? It is a great day, a day

where we get everybody together for the whole day. We meet here early

in the morning, have breakfast, and then we are off. We join the rest

of the lodges and head to the main demonstration in Carrickfergus.

long would it take a novelist like me to get up to the right level to

plate in the band? We will give you And as a prep takes a break, we can

look at pictures recorded earlier of the ceremony at the Cenotaph in

the grounds of the City Hall. And they were laid by the county master

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

That was the service at the Cenotaph earlier this morning with

the Last Post being played by George Spence. We can see the

banners throughout the morning depicting a wide range of people

and events. But if you wondered how much work goes into making one of

This is Garvagh, Nestle and it is famous amongst Orange men and women

as the site of the Battle of Garvagh, on 26th July 1813. Today,

it is a place of peace and tranquillity and home to a man who

has a unique place within the Orange Order. I am a traditional

Banner artist and I paint the banners for all the traditional

Lodges. What is the process involved in painting and banner?

have to decide and what colour of silk. And then we work on the

picture and what lettering. Every banner is different. How long does

it take to finish? About two weeks. I would usually work 18 hours a day.

I have been painting since I was a very young boy, I have always loved

sign writing and never thought I would paint banners. I started off

writing signs. That was before Banner pictures. I thought I would

try one and just rolled from there. I had to give up sign writing to

start painting banners. 18 years. Everyone tells a story. This year

the trend was the signing of the Covenant and it is nice to see the

young ones, asking, what does that mean? That gives an opportunity to

give some history. Tell them about their culture. Tell them about what

the culture really means. The at the end of the day, what makes for

a good banner? The best thing is to make the picture as dramatic as

possible so it is like an advertising sign, it has to shoot

out at you and says, this is what we stand for. We are two years

ahead of ourselves so we have plenty to look forward to. There is

a good chance that you'll see a banner painted by William going

past. The best part is putting the letters on because that is the end!

That is where you start? That is Helen finding all about the art of

making banners. And then Carrickfergus again, Ralph McLean...

Yes, it is all happening and the parade is in full flow. It is

sounding good, the weather is fantastic. The sun is beating down.

These two ladies must be sweltering. You are the Welcome Host? We greet

people and take the visitors around, show them were the toilets are and

what they can get something to eat and hope that they enjoy their day.

What sort of people have to be meeting? From all over? Plenty of

people, from Scotland, England, we had one Canadian and several

Australians. It has been great. There is a good atmosphere on the

streets and everybody seems to be in party mood? A it is great, it is

a brilliant day and the weather is good and this is all free. If a new

have family members? You were waiting to turn his people? I have.

My young son and my husband are both in the pipe band leading the

parade so that is great to see them out. In terms of a day like this,

it is a chance to celebrate and have fun in this beautiful town and

you are both from the town so this must mean a lot? It is lovely to

see Carrickfergus with so many people and the sun shining and to

see the castle at its best and have everybody enjoyed themselves.

will let you go back to do a job. Fantastic. Back to Belfast. A thank

you. We can now take a troop back in time, courtesy of the BBC

archive, to look at the Twelfth The first thing apart from that

fact that this is and black and white, this is 1950s in Donegall

Square, and this is more formal? The black-and-white just extent to

which the general difference. The greater formality, the seriousness

with which Orangemen and their spectators took the ceremony. At

the height of Northern Ireland's existence. A this takes us up into

Bedford Street. And then... 1969. We moved to Bedford Street and then

to the Lisburn Road. The Windsor Avenue. We're at the moment still

an Donegall Square. We are now moving to the Lisburn Road. Windsor

Avenue. And lots of people on the pavement? Yes. Any of the banners.

They probably have the same designs as the ones we have been looking at

today. But they would not be the same banners in most cases since

the life of the banner is only a couple of decades. That was 1969.

We can now move to 1971 in colour. And from the City Hall... The

camera looks forward, through Royal Avenue. And then on to Donegall

Place. Again, very smart in those days. 1971? Troubled times but you

would not guess that. And quite a range of silver band. And accordion

band. The -- bands. And we are now pretty firmly on Lisburn Road.

Because in 1971, the field was at Finaghy. So the cameras are taking

us up the Lisburn Road. That long walk. And then we can see them

turning off. Turning right. Down towards the field at Finaghy. Very

smart. Very well disciplined. Helicopter shot. Moving down

towards the field. From the crowds in Finaghy all those years ago to

the streets of Belfast today. Well, I have had such a good time today.

I have met so many people. And here are three very special young women.

My name is Raquel. You are from different parts of Spain. We are on

a course that we are doing. The three of us are English teachers.

And we are just learning. learning about the culture. What a

perfect occasion. What is the impression? It has been very

contagious, with the music. Obviously, we learn a little bit

about what is happening. But the colours and the music, it is very

exciting for us to see. There will be a lot of cultural parades across

Spain. What religion and very his historic events? Yes, in fact we

have a lot of traditional religious marching bands. And lots of

traditional Streetdance as well. Lots of music. Many not for

political reasons, I guess. Something different but similar in

a way. The drums are striking behind us. What do you feel

whenever you hear those drums? You just enjoy it? Lovely to meet you.

Thanks. Back to Walter Love... Thank you. As you can see, this is

the Boyne when the parade comes to a halt. But there is some informal

entertainment going on. Quite a bit of activity. That is quite a nice

scene? It is indeed. Still no rain. It has been a very good day. And

the prospects for this afternoon, because we must remember that

everybody here, when they get to the field, they have to walk five

miles again to come back again. Very colourful, very relaxed scene

in Bedford Street. At the centre of Belfast. That is all we have time

for. But remember, you can watch this programme on the BBC iPlayer