Drumcree Parade Ban Extended Amid Tensions

Orange Order’s Garvaghy Road march remains blocked after 30 years of dispute.

Thirty years after the Drumcree parade dispute began, the Orange Order has again been barred from marching on Portadown’s Garvaghy Road, a predominantly nationalist area, underscoring persistent sectarian divides.

Parades Commission’s Decision

Police upheld the Parades Commission’s standing resolution on Sunday, preventing the march. The commission stated the restriction was “necessary, proportionate and fair”, reflecting the potential impact on community relations.

Prior to the march, Portadown LoL No 1 had publicly requested discussions with the Garvaghy Road Residents, the Parades Commission, and other relevant parties, asserting that the issue was “far from settled.”

Community Reaction

According to a 2023 study by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, community relations remain a significant concern, with 29% of respondents believing that sectarianism is still widespread (NISRA).

A spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition acknowledged the peaceful passing of Sunday’s parade. The spokesperson stated, “There is no logical reason why the Orange Order simply refuses to return to Carleton Street by the same route which they used to make their way out to Drumcree.”

The residents added: “The Nationalist community has moved on from the dark days of the 1990’s. It’s time the Orange Order did likewise.”

Historical Context

The Drumcree dispute began on July 9, 1995, when Garvaghy Road residents protested against the marchers. The Orange Order was formally banned from the route three years later.

Past Violence

Escalating tensions during this period resulted in multiple fatalities. Among them were two Catholic men: taxi driver **Michael McGoldrick**, 31, murdered by the UVF in 1996, and **Robert Hamill**, killed by a loyalist mob in May 1997.

In 1998, three Catholic schoolboys, **Richard** (10), **Mark** (9) and **Jason Quinn** (8), died in a petrol bomb attack on their home in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, connected to the Drumcree dispute.

Also in 1998, RUC officer **Frank O’Reilly** died after being struck by a pipe bomb thrown by loyalists in Portadown.

This Sunday we will hold our annual service and parade to Drumcree Church, the oldest continuous Orange Service recorded spanning over 200 years. For the 27th year we again have been prevented by the quango,the Parades Commission and PSNI to return home via the Garvaghy Road,1/4 pic.twitter.com/5OpYvbkWQK

— portadown lol 1 (@portadownlol1) July 4, 2025