10,000 at Orange parade in Donegal

Over 10,000 men and women took part in the Republic's only Orange Order parade at the tiny seaside village of Rossnowlagh, Co…

Over 10,000 men and women took part in the Republic's only Orange Order parade at the tiny seaside village of Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal.

They wended their way between hedgerows through narrow country lanes behind a record turnout of 35 bands to a rally in a field close to the beach.

Speakers at the head of the procession arrived at the rally platform 40 minutes before the end of the parade started moving three kilometres away.

Gardaí said that apart from the traffic congestion, in a resort with a winter population of fewer than 200, there was no trouble.

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A spokesman said: "There was an atmosphere of a family day out in glorious sunshine. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves."

Orange lodges were represented from all the Ulster counties as well as Dublin, Leitrim, Liverpool and Scotland.

The Rossnowlagh parade is traditionally held the Saturday before July 12th.