Northern Ireland live: Thousands of protesters block Drumcree Orange Order march amid calls for calm

Speaking from the area on Sunday morning, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said the people of Garvaghy Road would “not be drawn back to the past”.

She said: “We have spent all night here, all night talking to people, listening to people, seeking to reassure people that actually this can be resolved, and it must be.

“So here is what needs to happen now – the Secretary of State needs to intervene. The chief constable of the PSNI needs to intervene and put a stop to this.

“This is madness. This, in fact, is primitive treatment of any community in the year 2026. It is intolerable, and it will not be tolerated.”

Some in the crowd blocking the Garvaghy Road could be heard shouting “bring Stormont down”.

Asked on if she thought Stormont could collapse over the Drumcree dispute, the First Minister said: “I think that this brings into question how this whole peace process works.

“The progress of the last 28 years have been brought into question by the actions of the Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards, and I think that brings into question – you heard it here today.

“You heard it about the people’s view of Stormont. You heard it about the terms of politics working for them, and you hear it here time and time again and we’ve certainly heard it over the last 24 hours.

“What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?

“But I can tell you what we’re about. We’re about the future. We’re about building on our peace and progress. We’re about not allowing people to bring us back.”

Sam Rkaina27 September 2026 09:47

Pictures from gathering crowds of protesters

Sam Rkaina27 September 2026 09:44

Orange Order march given go-ahead after 29 year ban

A controversial Orange Order march has departed Drumcree in Northern Ireland following a late-night legal ruling.

The decision by the Parades Commission authorizing the parade along Garvaghy Road in Portadown was upheld during an “unprecedented” late-night High Court session in Belfast, concluding only a few hours before the march began.

Large groups of protesters, many wearing balaclavas, gathered along the road on Sunday morning—a location renowned as a major Troubles flashpoint in the 1990s.

A substantial display of fireworks was set off nearby roughly five minutes ahead of its scheduled 8am start, while a loudspeaker announcement warned demonstrators that they faced potential arrest for taking part in an unnoticed procession.

Loud cheers broke out after crowd members were informed that the Orange Order had departed Drumcree, followed shortly by chants calling to "Bring Stormont down".