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Parades Commission Approves First Orange Order March Since 1998

By Drooid · Oct 7, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Parades Commission Approves March

The Parades Commission approved a scaled-down Orange Order march on Garvaghy Road, the first since 1998.
The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on residents’ legal challenge to the commission’s decision on Monday.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill asked Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to intervene and protect Garvaghy Road residents.
A letter signed by 50 artists, including Noel Gallagher and Susan Sarandon, urged Chris Bryant to appoint an international mediator.

Summary

O'Neill Rejects Resignation Call

O'Neill rejected the DUP's call for her resignation over the Drumcree protests.
DUP assembly member Phillip Brett labeled O'Neill the “first minister of lawlessness”.
O'Neill said she will oppose unjust laws, standing firmly against a wrong law.
Sinn Féin ministers John O'Dowd, Caoimhe Archibald and Liz Kimmins also face exclusion motions.
Unionist parties backed no-confidence motions, which need majority support from both communities and may be debated next Monday at Stormont.

History

Historical Context

The Good Friday Agreement, signed on 10 April 1998, ended most Troubles violence and created a power-sharing Assembly plus the Parades Commission to police contentious marches. Voters approved it by 71 percent in May 1998. Today, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the Commission’s handling of the Garvaghy march revive those historic tensions, testing the agreement’s durability.

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Parades Commission Approves March

The Parades Commission approved a scaled-down Orange Order march on Garvaghy Road, the first since 1998.
The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on residents’ legal challenge to the commission’s decision on Monday.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill asked Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to intervene and protect Garvaghy Road residents.
A letter signed by 50 artists, including Noel Gallagher and Susan Sarandon, urged Chris Bryant to appoint an international mediator.

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