Thousands will take part in a number of parades held across Northern Ireland over the Easter weekend.
The parades will be held by both Nationalist and Unionist organisations from Friday, April 18, until Tuesday, April 22, and will result in road closures while they are taking place.
The PSNI has issued a series of warnings impacting parts of Belfast and counties Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry. They have advised that traffic delays can be expected with some diversions in place on Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday.
Meanwhile the Parades Commission has given the green light to a controversial Easter parade in Derry that has previously ended in violence. The parade, which has been marked sensitive, has been organised by the National Republican Commemoration Committee (NRCC), which arranges events on behalf of anti-agreement party Saoradh.
The ‘Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration’ branded event will take place on Easter Monday. Organisers say two bands, 500 participants and 100 supporters are expected.
Similar dissident republican events in Creggan in previous years have attracted serious disorder. Last year, following a parade through Creggan by masked men wearing paramilitary style uniforms, journalists came under attack as petrol bombs were thrown at members of various media organisations.
The previous year, in 2023, petrol bombs were thrown at the PSNI during a similar parade and police said pipe bombs were uncovered at the city cemetery the following day. There was also violence in the area in 2022.
A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "There will be some parking restrictions along main parade routes across the Easter weekend and organisers have asked the public to respect any area identified for blue badge holders or where No Parking Cones are placed.
"Officers will be on the ground to accommodate the flow of traffic and minimise delays. Street Traders wishing to trade along parade routes must have a valid Street Traders License issued by the local council. Stallholders should ensure that their stall does not encroach onto the road."
Here are some of the notable parades taking place over the next few days:
Good Friday
The annual parade of Edenmore Flute Band is taking place at 8.30pm on Friday from Mill Place, at the northern end of Limavady town centre. There are 25 bands listed on the 11/1 form, and 250 participants.
In Portavogie at 6.30pm on Friday, Portavogie Flute Band Auld Boys will be parading alone through the village, beginning at Cloughey Road in a show of support for William Bailie, a bandsman and school caretaker who recently suffered an attack.
Saturday
Carrickfergus Defenders will be on parade in their hometown at 2pm on Saturday. They will perform along with four other bands, starting out at Fergus Avenue.
Annalong Single Star Flute Band will be hosting its annual parade on Saturday, starting at Marine Park at 7pm. Some 36 bands are listed on the 11/1 form, with 1,100 estimated participants.
In Fermanagh, a parade of 22 bands organised by the Enniskillen Fusiliers Flute Band to celebrate their 15th anniversary will set out from Eden Street Carpark at 8.30pm on Saturday, embarking on a tour of the town. The number of participants is listed at 300.
In Randalstown, some 20 bands will set out from Shanes Street on Saturday at 8pm. It is the annual parade of Randalstown Sons Of Ulster Flute Band. Around 400 participants are on the form.
Easter Monday
A large Apprentice Boys march is set to take place in Lisburn on Monday. The annual Easter Monday march is “often regarded as the opening of the year’s parading season”.
The huge gathering in Lisburn sets off at 12.30pm. There are 50 bands in all listed on the 11/1 form, coming from as far away as Fermanagh, Ballymena, Armagh and Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone.
The parade begins at Wallace Park before heading south and doing a tour of the city centre and ending at Altona Road. There are 6,000 participants listed, with the organiser being the Apprentice Boys of Derry Belfast and District Amalgamated Committee.
In order to help people plan ahead for the weekend, Belfast Live has compiled a list of every parade that will be taking place along with their start times and locations;
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