Member's statement: Parades: Garvaghy Road
Member's statement by Mr John O'Dowd on .
- MLA
- Mr John O'Dowd
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 21 September 2026
- Type
- Member's statement (made as a minister)
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Parades: Garvaghy Road
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5741750
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I return again to the subject of the proposed Orange Order parade down the Garvaghy Road. In the past 24 hours or so, residents' groups from across the North that have previously been involved in issues around Orange Order marches and band parades have issued a statement in solidarity with the residents of the Garvaghy Road. That statement illustrates once again that it is not a local issue, as some would have us believe or would hope, that can be dealt with without consequences for other parading issues. The residents are clear in their statement that they express solidarity with the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition (GRRC) and the residents of that area and that they see it as an issue that impacts across the North. They also express their concerns that there may be an intention among some people in political unionism, the Orange Order and marching bands to reopen what were once seen to be settled parades across the North. I hope that that is not the case, because those of us who have experience of the past understand that the resolutions to parading issues across the North were hard won. They came about through accommodations between residents and the loyal orders and bands at local level. They are of precious value and have benefited us all in moving forward. I appeal once again to those who are behind the proposed parade to stop what they are doing; to allow the past 28 years of relative peace to be protected and advanced; and not to reopen old wounds. There is no requirement for an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road or to open up parading issues across the North. The 11 residents' groups that have made the statement are clear in their views. There can be no return to the mistakes of the past.
306 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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