UK NIRELAND APPRENTICE BOYS MARCH IS POSTPONED

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(10 Aug 1996) English/Nat • • Protestant marchers, known as Apprentice Boys, have postponed plans to parade along the historic walls of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. • • Part of the walls, which overlooked the Catholic Bogside district, had been sealed off by security forces. • • But thousands of Apprentice Boys have pressed ahead with a march through less controversial areas of the city. • • Catholic residents of Bogside district have called off a counter protest as tensions in the city appeared to die down on Saturday afternoon. • • Thousands of supporters for the Protestant Apprentice Boys parade gathered in Londonderry in Northern Ireland, determined to exercise their right to march. • • The Apprentice Boys were banned from taking the route along part of the city walls overlooking the Bogside , a Catholic area. • • They've decided not march along the walls for now - but they plan to return. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • This association wishes to state our firm intention to walk these city walls at a time of our own choosing. • SUPER CAPTION: Alastair Simpson, Governor of the Apprentice Boys • • The march commemorates the Protestant victory over Catholic King James' army in the 17th century. • • In 1689, 13 apprentice boys closed Londonderry's gates against the army who laid siege to the city but had to retreated after failing to capture it. • • But one Republican politician believes the days of such Protestant parades are numbered. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • In my opinion the days of Orange marches of Apprentice Boys marches, marching through Nationalist (Catholic) areas without the agreement of the local people are numbered. I believe many of them know that. The sooner they recognise that fact and face the reality that it's only through negotiation that these issues can be resolved, its only then that we will move on. • SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Spokesman • • In other villages and towns in Northern Ireland, other Apprentice Boys marches were also taking place. • • Hundreds of local residents in the tiny Catholic village of Dunloy, took to the streets in protest at the marchers attempts to parade through their village to their meeting hall. • • Blocking the road the Protestant marchers had to re-route their parade to the jubilation of the Catholics. • • Local residents were up in arms because the marchers were not local, but came from the surrounding area to march to the Loyalist (Protestant) hall in the village. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • And there's nobody in this village that would oppose a resident walking through this town but the fact that they have to come from outlying areas, I mean some of them as far away as 25 miles, to walk in this village, it doesn't make sense. • SUPER CAPTION: Paddy O'Kane, Chairman of Dunloy Resident Association • • But the Catholics were not successful in preventing the Apprentice Boys from sticking to their route in the town of Newton Butler. • • Security were out in force prepared to take action should any hint of trouble raise its head. • • Road blocks were in place and the police made sure distance was kept between the two opposing sides. • • For a time the Apprentice Boys could do nothing but wait to see what the outcome would be as the Catholics blocked their planned route. • • And after a tense stand-off between the two sides, the marchers were able to continue with their parade, and walk through the town as their bands played. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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