Enniskillen Twelfth: Colours and spectacle arrive in County town

Members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Institution and band members from Fermanagh and the Border counties descended on the town toward the Assembly Point prior to the main demonstration.

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However, members of one lodge took a much more traditional approach to arriving in the County town for the Twelfth as they took to the Erne.

A group of Brethren from Belle Isle 1314 departed Belle Isle at 8am on Tuesday morning to arrive in Enniskillen for shortly after 11am. The group rowed the Erne in their handcrafted cot accompanied by a boat.

Breathren with Belleisle True Blues, making their way to the Twelfth Celebrations in Enniskillen by Cot..

Speaking on behalf of Belle Isle LOL 1314 Bro. Andy Cathcart, said: “The cot was built as part of the heritage of our island, we started to rebuild them again as fibreglass have taken over. We now have two cots back on the island. This will be the first time that the cots will have been in Enniskillen since the 1800s and we left for Enniskillen (from Belle Isle) at 8 o'clock this morning.”

Some bands were celebrating milestones including Derryclavin Pipe Band who on the morning of the Twelfth marched their traditional route from over 100 years ago. Pipe Major Gordon McKeown said: “The lodge and band 100 years ago always travelled that route to the train and then got the train in Lisbellaw and onto the Twelfth of July and we thought it was only right to do it with the anniversary.”

Derryclavin Pipe Band making their way from their hall to Lisbellaw..

In the town there were many who were delighted to see the Twelfth return to Enniskillen and to be able to spot friends, family and neighbours.

Groups of people had travelled from all over including a number from the Border counties. Pearl Heaslip and Stella Heaslip from Belturbet, Cavan travelled up saying “we travel up most years, and look forward to it". They were looking forward to seeing family members adding: “ My brothers and sisters play with Stonepark in Co. Cavan.”

One member from Doorin LOL sported a pair of Union Flag socks combined with a pair of Union Flag shoes much to the delight of onlookers.

Bro. Alan Maxwell, LOL 1148, Doorin, Co.Donegal all dressed up for the Twelfth Celebrations in Enniskillen..

An international visitor went a step further as he joined Enniskillen Pipe Band on parade. John Palmer from Brackwede, Bielefeld in Germany joined proceedings.

He explained how his unique circumstances brought him to the Twelfth on Tuesday, he said: “My dad came from Enniskillen and was over in Germany with the Army. I came back to Enniskillen today to meet up with the family. I have played in pipe bands and flute bands in Germany. My band that I play in is the Highland Dragoon Pipe Band in Germany.”

He continued: “I phoned Cecil the pipe major in Enniskillen Pipe Band and he said I could join anytime. This is my second Twelfth of July, I was here three years ago for Lisnaskea but with Covid and airplanes not flying, I hadn’t been back.”

Others who now live outside of the local area and were “delighted” to be in Enniskillen for the Twelfth celebrations included sisters Evelyn Moore and Florence Mann, originally from Clogher who now live in Liverpool and Ballymoney.

Ellie McDonald, Kathryn Malone, Sarah Foster and Jayne Bell, members of Brookeborough Flute Band..

International eyes were also on the livestream provided by The Impartial Reporter as thousands viewed the parade and lead up events. There were viewers from London, Australia and America as Enniskillen's Twelfth went truly international.