Orangemen celebrate Twelfth

Orangemen lead the parade through Belfast

Thousands of Orangemen are taking part in rallies across Northern Ireland to mark the climax of the Protestant marching season.

The 12 July parades celebrate the most important date in the Orange Order's calendar - the 1690 defeat of Catholic King James by Protestant Prince William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne.

The parades come after traditional bonfires were lit throughout Protestant areas of Northern Ireland on Wednesday night.

Orangemen are parading to 19 venues across Northern Ireland with the biggest demonstrations at Edenderry near Belfast and in Londonderry.

Rally sites

Ahoghill

Annalong

Augher

Ballymena

Ballycastle

Ballynahinch

Banbridge

Bangor

Benburb

Castledawson

Carnlough

Derriaghy

Donemana

Edenderry

Keady

Londonderry

Maguiresbridge

Portglenone

Randalstown

The Independent Orange Order is holding its demonstration this year in Portglenone in County Antrim.

Two of the most contentious parades are being held in south Belfast and in Londonderry, where there is opposition from nationalist residents and the Parades Commission has imposed conditions on the routes.

In Belfast the rally will take place at Edenderry, which is just outside the city.

The Ballynafeigh Lodge is holding a protest at security barriers at Ormeau Bridge against the decision to ban them from the lower Ormeau Road.

The Parades Commission said that it was "necessary to curtail" part of the route against the background of "continuing local community tension".

Protest letter

It also said it recognised the real possibility of "damaging community relations" and "likelihood of public disorder" if the parade were to proceed along the proposed route.

An Orange boy delivers the protest letter to the mayor

The Belfast lodges' main rally site was moved to Ormeau Park for the last two years in protest at the ban.

Restrictions have also been placed on a protest parade by the nationalist residents' group, the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community, which opposes the parades.

Meanwhile, about 10,000 people are expected in Londonderry for the first Twelfth demonstration in the city for almost 10 years.

However, Orangemen are protesting over a ban on visiting lodges from parading on the predominantly nationalist Cityside.

Orangemen in the city have said they will not join the main parade through the Waterside in protest at the commission's decision.

The local Orange lodge, which is the only lodge permitted to march in the Cityside, paraded to police lines where a letter of protest was handed over.

The order says the Parades Commission ban is a denial of civil and religious liberties.

Controversial parade

The commission has ruled that only one lodge from the Fountain area of the city and a local band would be allowed to parade in the Cityside, but not near the Diamond.

Earlier in the week, the RUC sent a letter to people who live near the route of a controversial Orange parade in north Belfast.

The parade passed without incident close to the scene of recent disturbances in the Ardoyne area.

In his letter, the local RUC district commander said the parade may need a substantial policing operation.

But he said the police would do everything in their power to respect human rights and minimise disruption.