Historic battle re-enacted

The 'sham fight' is a re-enactment of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690

The annual re-enactment of the victory of Prince William of Orange in the 1690 Battle of the Boyne over Catholic King James II has been staged in County Down.

Members of the Royal Black Institution held their traditional "sham fight" at Scarva on Monday.

Preceptories from Portadown, Newry, Tandragee, Markethill, Banbridge, Rathfriland and Lower Iveagh are involved each year, along with national and international visitors.

The Black Institution event followed the annual Twelfth of July celebrations on Saturday, when more than 60,000 Orangemen took part in parades at 18 locations throughout Northern Ireland.

The Royal Black Institution came into existence in Ireland in 1797 - two years after the formation of the Orange Order.

It says its foundations are "based firmly on scriptural truths and the propagation of the Christian reformed faith".

The Royal Black Preceptory is a sister order of the Orange Institution, whose members wear black rather than orange sashes.

All members must already be in the Orange Order before they can join the "Blacks".

Last year, thousands of "Blackmen", with accompanying bands, attended the march through the narrow streets of Scarva.