Royal Black Institution to hold Last Saturday demonstration in Coleraine

ROYAL BLACK INSTITUTION ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF THE LAST SATURDAY 2026 DEMONSTRATIONS

The Royal Black Institution will mark the finale of the parading season with five major Last Saturday demonstrations on August 29.

Parades will be held in Coleraine, Dundonald, Dungannon, Larne and Newry.

Upwards of 17,000 members will take part in the parades, involving around 350 preceptories and 300 bands.

Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson will attend the gathering in Dundonald.

He said: “The annual Last Saturday processions are flagship events on the parading calendar.

“We expect to see thousands of supporters turning out at the various locations, where they will see a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history.

“I was very impressed by the huge crowds of supporters who enjoyed the annual July celebrations at Scarva and Bangor, and by the great attendance at Brookeborough on August 1.”

He added: “The institution’s principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront at all our demonstrations on the Last Saturday, with religious services held at each location.”

COLERAINE

The Co Londonderry demonstration is taking place in Coleraine, where it was last held in 2006.

Members of 33 preceptories and 31 bands will be among the 2,500 participants in the parade, which will involve four districts - Coleraine No 1, City of Londonderry No 2 Raphoe No 3 and South Londonderry No 4.

The demonstration field is at Coleraine Showgrounds, where the main platform speakers will include Mervyn Kernaghan, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master; John Goligher, County Grand Master; Rev Joseph Andrews, County Grand Chaplain; and Rev Keith McIntyre.

The main parade will start at 12 noon, with the return one due to begin at 3.45pm.