MORE THAN 10,000 members and supporters of the Orange Order gathered at the weekend in the seaside resort of Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, for its only traditional annual parade in the Republic.
The Rossnowlagh parade is traditionally held on the Saturday preceding July 12th when the main Orange celebrations take place throughout the North.
While a record number of almost 60 lodges and bands paraded, the threat of rain - which did not really materialise - kept spectator figures marginally down on recent years.
Local gardaí reported no arrests. "There wasn't a hint of trouble," a Garda spokesman said. "They all seemed to enjoy themselves."
Drunken revelry was not part of the celebrations although two sash-bearing pals clinging to each other may have merrily attached themselves to the tail-end of the wrong group since the banner proudly proclaimed it to be one of the Order's many temperance lodges.
In spite of the happy atmosphere was a serious note was struck in a beachside field at the end of the parade down 2km of country lanes.
A plea for an end to attacks on Orange halls on both sides of the Border was made at the rally by guest speaker Perry Reid, grand secretary of the order in neighbouring Co Tyrone.
Celebrating his 50th year as an Orangeman, Mr Reid said: "The continuing damage being heaped upon our Orange halls on both sides of the Border is so disappointing to all of us.
"The intolerance of some communities towards our parades and the verbal critics of some of the parades who have nothing to offer for a shared future together, has beleaguered this institution for far too long. There must come a time for it to stop and the sooner the better for us all."
Mr Reid paid tribute to the government for establishing the Battle of the Boyne museum and interpretative centre near Drogheda. He described cross-political and cross-community meetings there as "memorable."
He also paid tribute to those who had offered "a hand of friendship to old opponents, while not compromising their firmly held faith and trust."
Earlier this year, the government approved funding of almost €250,000 to a company that has been set up by the Orange Order to refurbish the halls in the border counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan.