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Thousands take part in city march | Thousands take part in city march |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Thousands of Apprentice Boys have taken part in their annual parade in Londonderry on Saturday. | |
Prior to the lunch-time parade, local Apprentice Boys marched around the city walls before laying wreaths for war victims at the Diamond. | Prior 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 Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral followed. | A religious service at St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral followed. |
In the main parade, about 15,000 Apprentice Boys and spectators accompanied by 120 bands marched through the city centre. | |
There were no incidents during the parade, which took 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. |