The Orange Order in County Armagh has decided to move this year's twelfth of July demonstration in the county from Killyleagh to Portadown. The County Grand Master, Denis Watson, announced the change of venue at a rally in support of the Drumcree last night attended by about fifteen hundred Orangemen and supporters. Speaking on Morning Ireland, Mr. Watson said that the Order would continue to work for a solution, and he appealed to those interested in violence to stay away from Drumcree at the weekend.
The announcement follows the decision by the North's Parades Commission to ban next Sunday's march from going down the Garvaghy Road. Despite the disappointment over the Commission's ruling, the order's District Master, Harold Gracey, welcomed Tony Blair's involvement.