11,000 Apprentice Boys to take part in ‘Derry Day’ celebrations at the weekend

The General Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABOD) have indicated 127 bands are expected to be in Derry for the annual Relief of Derry commemorations on Saturday.

The ABOD Governor William Walker said: “The Relief of Londonderry events is the largest of our two Commemorative days, and follow’s December’s Shutting of the Gates.

"With the Relief of the city we commemorate the defiance and determination of the people of this city in securing civil and religious liberty for all.

“We expect all those coming to the city to take part in the Relief Commemorations, our Members and the bands they engage, to respect our city, remember the sacrifice of the besieged within the historic City Walls, bear yourselves with dignity and decorum at all times, and most importantly wear the Crimson with pride.”

Governor Walker said the ABOD will have a ‘terrific Marshal team’ who will be giving up their day for the good of the Association.

He said the Apprentice Boys expect everyone on parade to respect the General Committee Marshals, which will ensure good order and a safe day for everyone.

“Finally, to all Brethren and their bands, to family and friends coming to Londonderry on August 8 have a good day and safe journeys to and from our beloved city,” said the ABOD Governor.

David Hoey, General Secretary of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry said: “There are around 125 bands accompanying over 200 Clubs on the 337th Anniversary of the Relief of Londonderry.

"We know that besides coaches and buses bringing members and bands, increasingly spare seats are taken by family members coming to the city for the colour and sounds of the day’s events.

"Tourism NI figures show this is the biggest weekend in August for the local economy. We know that from early in the year as our members chase room bookings. Many have to stay well outside the city.

“Walking the Walls, a poignant Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, and attending St. Columb’s Cathedral’s Service of Thanksgiving focus on commemorating the huge sacrifice of those who suffered the misery of hunger, disease and death within the Walls and giving thanks to God for deliverance.

"The Relief Pageant at noon tells the story of the Siege. The afternoon is a celebration of the Relief of the city and that the heritage of our Association, of civil and religious liberty for all, was secured by those inside the Walls of Londonderry during the Great Siege of 1688-1689.”

Thousands of members of the loyal order travel to Derry to mark the lifting of the Siege of Derry on August 1, 1689 (Julian Calendar), now celebrated on the Saturday closest to August 11-12 in line with the Gregorian calendar. The event traditionally takes place on the Saturday prior to August 12.

The commemoration celebrates the destruction of a Jacobite boom laid across the Foyle close to where Boom Hall stands today. The blockade was famously breached by the Mountjoy, a Williamite ship under the command of Michael Browning.

The commemoration officially gets underway at midnight on Saturday with the symbolic firing of a cannon on the Derry Walls and 11,000 Apprentice Boys and 127 bands are expected to take part in the main celebration.

At 9.30am on Saturday the eight Parent Clubs – local clubs named for regiments formed during the siege – will parade around the walls before walking to St. Columb’s Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving.

Traffic diversions are likely from 9am when there will be some smaller parades ahead of the main parade at 12.30pm.

This is when visiting Branch Clubs and bands assemble at start points on Spencer Road, Duke Street and Duke Street Roundabout via Bonds Hill, Simpson's Brae, Distillery Brae and the Waterside Link before parading to the city centre via Craigavon Bridge.

They will be joined by the Parent Clubs at the junction of Artillery Street and Ferryquay Gate.

They will then parade through the city centre and back across the bridge to the Waterside where visiting Apprentice Boys will board their waiting transport.

The PSNI have indicated that on-street parking anywhere on the route will be restricted for the duration of the parade and any cars parked on the route will not be able to move until the parade has passed. The top deck of Craigavon Bridge will be closed for the duration of the parade.

The lower deck of Craigavon Bridge will remain open in both directions, with access only onto Victoria Road. There will be no left-turn access from the bottom deck of Craigavon Bridge for drivers coming from the Cityside.

There will be no vehicular access to the train station from the bottom deck of Craigavon Bridge during the hours of the parade. The road between the lower deck of Craigavon Bridge and Dale’s Corner will be closed for the duration of the parade and will have access for parade bus traffic only.

Drivers travelling from the Limavady direction, towards Strabane, will be diverted at Caw Roundabout via Crescent Link towards Newbuildings.

Traffic bound for the Cityside should use Foyle Bridge.

Motorists travelling from Strabane to the city should travel via Lifford. Those travelling from Strabane to Limavady will be diverted at Newbuildings towards Altnagelvin.

The demonstrations will be brought to close when the ABOD Parent Clubs and General Committee march back to the city centre and return the colours to the Memorial Hall