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Thousands take part in city march | Thousands take part in city march |
(20 minutes later) | |
Thousands of Apprentice Boys are in Londonderry preparing for Saturday's annual parade. | Thousands of Apprentice Boys are in Londonderry preparing for Saturday's annual parade. |
In the run-up to the lunch-time parade, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. | In the run-up to the lunch-time parade, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. |
A religious service at St Columcille's Cathedral followed. | A religious service at St Columcille's Cathedral followed. |
In the main parade, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands are marching in the city centre. | |
The parade will take several hours to pass. | The parade will take several hours to pass. |
The governor of the Apprentice Boys, William Allen, said this would be his last year leading the organisation and he hoped the day would be remembered as a peaceful one. | The governor of the Apprentice Boys, William Allen, said this would be his last year leading the organisation and he hoped the day would be remembered as a peaceful one. |
"We have been having peaceful parades over the last three or four years and I would like it to continue," he said. | "We have been having peaceful parades over the last three or four years and I would like it to continue," he said. |
"It is very important for the citizens and the city itself. Anyone that comes to cause trouble only destroys the day and we look on it as a family day out as well." | "It is very important for the citizens and the city itself. Anyone that comes to cause trouble only destroys the day and we look on it as a family day out as well." |
There have been appeals for calm and police have warned they will deal with anyone involved in illegal drinking or any unruly behaviour. | There have been appeals for calm and police have warned they will deal with anyone involved in illegal drinking or any unruly behaviour. |
The parade celebrates the actions of Protestant Apprentice Boys who shut the city gates against the forces of Catholic King James in December 1688. | The parade celebrates the actions of Protestant Apprentice Boys who shut the city gates against the forces of Catholic King James in December 1688. |