Orangemen have been told to stand together and fight against the erosion of their rights by the "enemies of Northern Ireland". Addressing one of the North's largest demonstrations, in Ballymena, Co Antrim, the DUP MLA, Mr Paul Berry, warned that the unionist and Orange traditions could be extinguished unless Orangemen presented a united front.
He called for a "major recruitment drive" to attract more young people into the Orange Order. "It is important that we all stand together to highlight our rights that are being stolen from us", he said to loud cheers from the crowd.
Mr Berry pointed to an incident in the south Armagh village of Belleeks in which he claimed republicans had marched through the town illegally five months ago without any action being taken against them by the RUC.
"There was no permission given, no application submitted to either the Parades Commission or the RUC and the police have confirmed there were no prosecutions made. This is purely because of the tactic of appeasing the republican movement in exchange for silent guns. "Unfortunately, some unionists would rather accommodate negotiations with such people rather than stand firm and rally around the cause.," Mr Berry said.
Several thousand people gathered in the Co Antrim town to watch more than 1,500 Orangemen and women from 30 lodges and 15 bands parade by on a dismally grey and damp day. However, spirits were high on what had all the hallmarks of a family day out with burger stands lining the streets and children clutching red, white and blue striped teddybears. Ronnie, a farmer in his mid-40s, said it was a shame that things could not always be like this: "My Catholic neighbours are here today to enjoy the bands, just like I would always go to see their parade at Easter.
"Believe me, it has never done me any harm. But if this violence continues, I feel they should just ban the lot."
Orangemen observed a minute's silence for Joey Dunlop, the Formula One motorcycle champion killed in Estonia two weeks ago, before cheering the Master of Ballee LOL 474, Mr Richard Moore, when he said he hoped it would not now be too long before "our other brethren in Portadown get walking down the Garvaghy Road".