12,000 take part in Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh

Thousands of members of the Orange Order’s only festival march in the Republic today spoke of looking forward to the expected Dublin visit of Queen Elizabeth of England next year.
More than 12,000 marchers with 30 bands paraded through two kilometres of country roads to their annual pre-12^th beachside gathering at Rossnowlagh.
The main festival speaker the Rev Stanley Gamble, a Grand Chaplain of the Orange Order said he looks forward, before President McAleese leaves office, to seeing the queen in the Republic.
Gardai reported no trouble during the march,  although overnight extremist republicans overnight daubed part of an approach road in green, white and gold.
Orangemen have paraded in Co. Donegal since the early 1900s and since 1978 they have held an annual march in Rossnowlagh every Saturday before July 12^th.