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 Portadownโs 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 โnecessary, proportionate and fairโ
, 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 โfar from settled.โ
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 Sundayโs parade. The spokesperson stated, โThere 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.โ
The residents added: โThe Nationalist community has moved on from the dark days of the 1990โs. Itโs time the Orange Order did likewise.โ
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 OโReilly** 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