Three parades will be held in Derry this Friday to mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.
The 36th Ulster Division suffered some 5,500 casualties on the opening day of the battle on 1 July, 2016, with some 3,500 Irish soldiers from both sides of the community losing their lives in total.
The first parade will see a lone piper lead around 50 members of the Apprentice Boys to a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial in the Diamond.
The parade will leave the Apprentice Boys’ headquarters in Society Street at 7.15am, returning 30 minutes later.
At 6.40pm, the Hamilton Flute Band (pictured) will lead parade through the city centre parade.
The parade will leave Horace Street and make its way along Carlisle Road and Ferryquay Street to The Diamond for a wreath-laying ceremony.
It will then make its way along, Bishop Street and London Street to a church service in St Columb’’s Cathedral.
Following the service, the parade will return via London Street and Hawkin Street to Horace Streeet, where it is expected to arrive at 8.45pm.
In the Waterside area of the city, the local No 5 Orange Lodge will host a parade, beginning at 9.00pm.
It will leave Dennet Gardens and make its way to a service in Glendermott Parish Church via Dungiven Road, Altnagelvin Roundabout, Glenshane Road, Belt Road and Church Brae.
The parade will leave the church at 9.00am for the return journey along Church Brae, Irish Street, Mourne Drive, Finn Gardens, Bann Drive and Sheskin Gardens, arriving at Dennet Gardens around 10.00pm.
Around 150 Orangemen, accompanied by the Killaloo Accordion Band, will take part.
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