About
he historic town of Comber will play host to the Mid-Down Twelfth as they celebrate the 333rd Anniversary of the Williamite victory at The Battle of The Boyne.
The Brethren of Comber District will be welcoming their peers from Saintfield, Lecale, Ballynahinch and Castlewellan districts.
In total, 61 lodges from the five participating districts will be on parade accompanied by around 48 bands. Representatives from the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland and the Junior Grand Lodge will also be taking part.
A feature of the Comber demonstration is the centralised 'Field' at Park Way Playing Fields and parade route which loops around the town.
The parade will get underway at noon, led by the North Down Dragoons, comprising cavalry and foot soldiers in military costume of the Williamite period.
It will travel along Killinchy Street, High Street, Ballygowan Road, Railway Street, Orange Hall Lane, Brownlow Street, Glen Road, Mill Street, Castle Street, Bridge Street Link, Bridge Street, Comber Square, Killinchy Street and back to Park Way.
On return to the field, the Platform proceedings will get underway at 2pm. A religious service will be led by Grand Chaplain, Wor. Bro. Rev. Stanley Gamble, while the guest speaker will be Comber resident, Deputy County Grand Master, Wor. Bro. Kyle McIlwrath.
Brethren on parade in Comber will be joined by Wor. Bro. Michael Thomas, Provincial Grand Secretary of Ontario West from Canada.
Comber District will dedicate a new District Orange Arch ahead of this year's Twelfth parade. Having not had an arch erected in the town for nearly 20 years, the host District is excited to re-establish this important Orange tradition in Comber.
A new District bannerette commissioned for the Twelfth will be carried ahead of the District Officers and visitors.
A great variety of pipe, brass, accordion and flute bands, as well as traditional Lambeg drums add to what is a family friendly, traditional Twelfth of July celebration where everyone will be made very welcome.
