![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6499.jpg\")
A member of the Orange Order outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown this morning Photograph: Peter Morrison\/PA<\/p>\nOrange Order march delayed as protesters block routeA member of the Orange Order outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown this morning Photograph: Peter Morrison\/PA<\/p>\n
With counter-protesters still blocking Garvaghy Road, there\u2019s uncertainty over whether the Orangemen will carry out their march.<\/p>\n
The court had ruled for the procession to kick off at 8am and to finish by 9.30am but it does not appear that the group of 35 Orangemen marchers have even set off from their starting point at Drumcree Church.<\/p>\n
My colleague Lisa O\u2019Caroll reports that Northern Ireland<\/a> Cool FM is saying the Orange Order is in talks with police after they were told that the route down Garvaghy Road, which is blockaded by protestors, may not be possible after all.<\/p>\n Orangemen had formed up at Drumcree Church but have now gone back inside as talks continue.<\/p>\n The Garvaghy Road remains blocked, and it\u2019s understood there will be no movement any time soon, with the Orange Order still planning to march.<\/p>\n The BBC is reporting that a member of the group said they would wait on the advice of police to tell them when they could start the march.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.45 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Stand-off continues<\/p>\n There are still many protesters coalescing on Garvaghy Road in a demonstration that\u2019s stopped the Orange Order march from going ahead for now.<\/p>\n Northern Ireland<\/a> media have shared video on social media of attempts by police to negotiate with some of the protesters, exhorting them to leave. They\u2019ve warned them that obstructing the march could be a criminal offence. But the protesters don\u2019t appear to be budging.<\/p>\n Meanwhile just around the corner, up the road, only about 20 minutes walk away according to Google Maps, is the Drumcree Church where members of the Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge Order No 1 had gathered this morning as their starting point. <\/p>\n They don\u2019t appear to have set off yet, heeding police warnings and there are marked cars and vans on the grounds.<\/p>\n Police vans at the Drumcree Church in Portadown this morning. Unionist politicians have also been speaking to the media in Portadown.<\/p>\n Democratic Unionist lawmaker Jonathan Buckley described the current blockade of protesters as being \u201cled by mob rule\u201d, and condemned the Republican politicians encouraging the demonstration.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been an attempt on Garvaghy Road today, by those who are led by mob rule, to try to upend what was a lawful decision by the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to say that for the past 28 years, the Orange Order had respected the decision by the Parades Commission to ban the annual march from taking place and they had abided by the law and had not marched.<\/p>\n So, he said, posing the challenge to republican politicians: \u201cI ask the question today of Breand\u00e1n Mac Cionnaith, Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O\u2019Neill, what has changed?\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier these leaders had spoken at the protest, criticising the decision to allow the protest and expressing support for residents\u2019 stand.<\/p>\n DUP leader Gavin Robinson has also accused the Sinn F\u00e9in leaders of inflaming the situation. <\/p>\n \u201cThe rule of law cannot apply only when Sinn F\u00e9in likes the outcome,\u201d he said. \u201cOur institutions are founded on respect for the police, the courts and the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Chief Constable entreats ‘those with influence’ with protesters to abide by law<\/p>\n There\u2019s been a significant police presence over the town this morning, with officers and marked cars accompanying the growing crowd of protesters blocking the road.<\/p>\n Police have been telling protesters to leave, noting that if they stay they will be blocking a legally-protected march and could face criminal charges.<\/p>\n But the message has been largely ignored by protesters, who linked arms, and are still blocking the road. Senior Republican lawmakers had joined them this morning including First Secretary Michelle O\u2019Neill and Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald.<\/p>\n Earlier, Police Service of Northern Ireland<\/a> Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appealed to \u201cthose with influence to encourage people to comply with the law and work with the police.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n People blocking Garvaghy Road this morning Photograph: Cathal McNaughton\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.06 EDT<\/p>\n What we know so far<\/p>\n Amid the ongoing stand-off, let\u2019s quickly recap where things stand.<\/p>\n The Orange Order march is still yet to go ahead as crowds of protesters, some wearing balaclavas, remain on Garvaghy Road in Portadown, blocking the route.<\/p>\n Overnight, the Orangemen won a battle in court to stage their march through this Catholic enclave in largely Protestant town\u2013 the first time they have been allowed to do so in nearly 30 years<\/p>\n The Drumcree march, as it\u2019s known, has been banned every year by the Parades Commission since 1998 when it was a flashpoint for violence and sectarian conflict during the Troubles<\/p>\n But the indepedent adjudicator ruled on Friday that a smaller version of the parade could take place, giving permission for 35 Orangemen to carry out the parade in silence<\/p>\n The decision has sparked outrage from nationalists and republicans, with Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s leaders leading the counter-rally this morning. The republican party says thousands have joined the protest blocking the march.<\/p>\n While most parades taking place across Northern Ireland<\/a> each year are mostly uncontroversial, nationalists say parades passing through Catholic areas, and the violent history of the Drumcree parade, are an affront and a display of triumphialism aimed at offending and intimidating them<\/p>\n Political response<\/p>\n In Northern Ireland, unionist politicians say the march has been ruled lawful and so should be allowed to go ahead, without disruption<\/p>\n Democratic Unionist party leader Gavin Robinson criticised First Secretary Michelle O\u2019Neill for joining the protesters blocking the route, saying she should be upholding the law instead of \u201cinflaming oppositon\u201d<\/p>\n But O\u2019Neill and Sinn F\u00e9in leaders have called the march\u2019s greenlight a \u201cdisgrace\u201d given its history. She\u2019s called on the British government and police to intervene, saying the march\u2019s approval had brought the entire Good Friday Agreement peace process \u201cinto question\u201d<\/p>\n Political leaders in Britain and Ireland have called for calm amid the tensions and fears of potential clashes on the road<\/p>\n PM Andy Burnham appealed for \u201ccalm on all sides\u201d saying there had been \u201cbig gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don\u2019t want to see things go backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.47 EDT<\/p>\n Irish government wants to ‘avoid return to divisions of the past’<\/p>\n The Irish government has said it in a statement it is \u201cvery concerned about the situation\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur primary concern remains to avoid a return to the divisions of the past, recalling the significant progress made over many years in furthering reconciliation under the Good Friday Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>NI Secretary Bryant: ‘Wish we weren’t in this position’<\/p>\n As we reported earlier, the Northern Ireland<\/a> secretary Chris Bryant is flying back to Belfast this afternoon amid growing tensions over this loyalist march down a Catholic road in Portadown, the first time it will be held in nearly 30 years after a long-running ban.<\/p>\n My colleague Lisa O\u2019Carroll has more on what the minister told BBC Northern Ireland in the last half hour:<\/p>\n \u201cI wish we weren\u2019t in this position. I wish we we weren\u2019t looking at relitigating things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of people who are watching this very, very closely including people who have long memories of things that happened 30 years ago and will be very nervous.<\/p>\n \u201cThe number one thing is that people should cooperate with the police. I want everything to pass off as calmly as is possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He said he was in constant touch with the police, but admitted he did not have the powers to call the march off unless the chief of the PSNI formally requested him to do so.<\/p>\n He said the courts had upheld the the determination by the Parades Commission, \u201cso it is important that everybody abides by the law.\u201d<\/p>\n Protestors are currently blocking the entrance to the Garvaghy Road raising the prospect of the police having to physically intervene to allow the Orange Order proceed down the road.<\/p>\n The Orangemen are currently at Drumcree Church, the starting point of the march, in talks with the PSNI.<\/p>\n Asked if he was not \u201cwashing his hands\u201d of his responsibilities, he told BBC: \u201cI\u2019m not washing my hands, I\u2019m just taking this very very seriously Share<\/a>Orange Order march delayed as protesters block routeA member of the Orange Order outside Drumcree Parochial Hall in Portadown this morning Photograph: Peter Morrison\/PA<\/p>\n With counter-protesters still blocking Garvaghy Road, there\u2019s uncertainty over whether the Orangemen will carry out their march.<\/p>\n The court had ruled for the procession to kick off at 8am and to finish by 9.30am but it does not appear that the group of 35 Orangemen marchers have even set off from their starting point at Drumcree Church.<\/p>\n My colleague Lisa O\u2019Caroll reports that Northern Ireland<\/a> Cool FM is saying the Orange Order is in talks with police after they were told that the route down Garvaghy Road, which is blockaded by protestors, may not be possible after all.<\/p>\n Orangemen had formed up at Drumcree Church but have now gone back inside as talks continue.<\/p>\n The Garvaghy Road remains blocked, and it\u2019s understood there will be no movement any time soon, with the Orange Order still planning to march.<\/p>\n The BBC is reporting that a member of the group said they would wait on the advice of police to tell them when they could start the march.<\/p>\n Protesters holding signs while blocking Garvaghy Road Photograph: Paul Faith\/AFP\/Getty ImagesA large crowd had gathered this morning to prevent Updated at\u00a005.45 EDT<\/p>\n Democratic Unionist Party blasts counter-protest organised to block march The leader of the governing DUP, Gavin Robinson, has condemned first minister Michelle O\u2019Neill over remarks which he believes are obstructing a legal parade down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road.<\/p>\n \u201cA first minister\u2019s duty is to uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them,\u201d Robinson. <\/p>\n \u201cThe legal position is now unequivocal. 35 Orangemen can walk in silence along Garvaghy Road. The Court of Appeal found that the injunction had been granted in error, and the High Court subsequently confirmed that the Parades Commission determination must be respected.<\/p>\n Yet Michelle O\u2019Neill described that outcome as \u201cdisgraceful\u201d, claimed an Orange procession was being \u2018forced\u2019 through the area and declared: \u201cThere is no going back. Not tomorrow. Not ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Those words were followed by organised obstruction of the road, while Breand\u00e1n Mac Cionnaith instructed people to sit down, link arms and return if removed by police. <\/p>\n Michelle O\u2019Neill then addressed the gathering, urged it to \u201cstay strong\u201d and repeated the \u201cno going back\u201d chant.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.48 EDT<\/p>\n Northern Ireland secretary heading to Belfast Northern Ireland secretary Chris Bryant is on his way to Belfast, leaving the Labour party conference in Liverpool to address the tensions.<\/p>\n Speaking to the BBC in Liverpool, he said he is taking the situation \u201cvery, very seriously\u201d.<\/p>\n Calling for calm he said it was \u201cimportant that everybody abides by the law\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI would urge people to cooperate with the police. I would say that on both sides incidentally.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>PM Andy Burnham appeals for ‘calm on all sides’<\/p>\n The prime minister has just been speaking on the BBC about the parade, calling for calm to prevail.<\/p>\n \u201cI know it\u2019s a tense situation. We do appeal for calm on all sides,\u201d he told Laura Kuenssberg on her politics show.<\/p>\n![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5014.jpg\")
Protesters holding signs while blocking Garvaghy Road Photograph: Paul Faith\/AFP\/Getty Images![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5256.jpg\")
A large crowd had gathered this morning to prevent
the parade from going ahead, despite it being ruled a legally valid march by the courts who upheld a Parades Commission decision. Photograph: Paul Faith\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n
Photograph: Peter Morrison\/PAProtesters on Garvaghy Road, a mainly Catholic and nationalist area of Portadown Photograph: Paul Faith\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>Unionists say protesters ‘trying to upend lawful protest’<\/p>\n
I can only act if the chief constable asks me to act\u201d<\/p>\n
the parade from going ahead, despite it being ruled a legally valid march by the courts who upheld a Parades Commission decision. Photograph: Paul Faith\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790511131_511_Lisa-OCarroll-byline-004.jpg\")
Lisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\nLisa O\u2019Carroll<\/p>\n