they didnt get down the road, not this year, last year or any other year, its over and thats the end of it so to those idiots who think that they will then dream on

Mike in Portadown, thanks for that laugh, I needed a big of humor today! You were being humorous?

I am a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and I think our brethren in the Orange Institute should take a leaf out of our book. The ABOD has always been able to work round and negotiate with people and plan our parades accordingly. We don't go through any 'Catholic areas.' While I respect the peaceful and dignified protest shown here I think the order has to talk more and make the effort to 'sell' our culture to the wider world which is what the ABOD have done and do the relief of Londonderry celebrations are accompanied by the maiden city festival. Although I am happy to see that the orange leadership is starting to talk to people with the address to the Republic's government, I hope that local lodges will fallow their example. I am also saddened by the complete lack of understanding towards each other's culture and traditions from all sides that is evident in some of the comments here.

This parade has been rerouted away from the most direct route to Drumcree Parish Church from the mid 80's. It used to leave the town centre and proceed down Woodhouse St, along Obins St, then out the Dungannon Road to Drumcree. It was blocked from this route and made to go along Dungannon Road via Corcrain Road.The return parade always came down the Garvaghy Road. It used to be a country road into the town then turning into the McGrady nursery(championship rose grower), post WWII housing was built to house soldiers returning from the front. Look at the names of the estates, Chruchill, Woodside etc. British wartime leaders. Bit ironic don't you think? This was a mixed housing area until ethnic cleansing saw the majority of the protestant residents intimidated from the area. There are only about 40 houses that actually face onto the road. The residents try and bring up bonfires in other areas of the town into the mix as part of their grievance against the OO, the OO do not organise bonfires so therefore cannot talk about bonfires, that is an issue for the wider PUL community of Portadown. They also talk about the Junior Orange and the offence caused by 15-20 children walking about 100 yards of the road once a year. Again the JLOL is not under the control of the GOLI so Portadown Disrtict cannot tell them what to do. Over the years about nine Parades have been rerouted away from the Garvaghy Road/Obins Street area. Enough is enough. This is not an Island of equals the Protestant people are sick and tired of being hammered into the ground. Members of the nationalist/republican community hark back to how this is a Protestant state for a Protestant people. This was only said in response to DeValera stating years earlier that he would turn the republic into a Catholic state for Catholic people(ie. out with the Prods!). What sort of reaction was that meant to engender? Finally we are getting away from this situation in BOTH countries. No doubt the censors wont publish this as it may cause offence but all I have stated are verifiable facts.

The parades commission overstepped the mark by telling Protestants to leave their church by 2.30pm are they now the religion police, it is none of their business what time we leave our church at and for some to think their decisions does away with hatred, you just have to look at the naked hatred on this page from nationalists which is very offensive. For some to compare the OO to the KKK should never have been printed & this kind of talk does little for cross community. Those people should take a long hard look at their own community and the behaviour of their church including the pope's youthful affiliations before condemning other traditions. The parades do play Irish tunes maybe you should all listen & learn. UTV should print this after all the comments before mine