Garvaghy Road solidarity event to take place in Crolly - Donegal News

A SOLIDARITY event for the residents of Garvaghy Road will take place at Crolly Bridge tomorrow.

Residents of Garvaghy Road in Portadown have been protesting against a planned march by the Orange Order down the predominantly-nationalist road since Sunday.

Independent Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is organising the solidarity event at 10am tomorrow, having supported Garvaghy residents over recent days.

“I have been up and down quite a lot and so have quite a lot of people from the county, especially quite a good few from the Gaeltacht,” he said.

Donegal TDs among the protestors blocking route of Orange Order parade

An Orange Order parade was scheduled to march down the Garvaghy Road in Drumcree, near Portadown, in Co Armagh for Sunday.

It was the first time in 28 years that the controversial parade was permitted by the Parades Commission since it ruled, not long after it received statutory powers in 1998, that the Orange Order could not walk the route.

The march was permitted this year when a court ruled that a “sloppy” error was made by the Commission, which is the independent body that rules on parades in the North.

However, Garvaghy Road residents and protesters have strongly opposed the march down the route, which saw immense volatility and loss of life during the 1990s.

Attempts to end the stand-off in the last few days have failed, with the Orange Order refusing to accept an agreement.

On Monday, an emergency motion in support of Garvaghy Road residents was passed by Donegal County Council.

Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry McMonagle proposed the motion and thanked the councillors for their support.

“I welcome the unanimous support of Donegal County Council for this motion and the clear message it sends that communities should be able to live in peace and free from sectarian discrimination and harassment,” he said.

“The residents of Garvaghy Road have the right to live peacefully in their own community without being subjected to intimidation or harassment.

“It is important that we stand in solidarity with those who are affected and reaffirm that communities must not be dragged back to the division and conflict of the past.

“The unanimous support for this motion demonstrates that there is no place for sectarianism or harassment in our communities and that the right of people to live in peace must be respected.”

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