{"id":231057,"date":"2025-07-02T04:17:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/231057\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T04:17:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:17:18","slug":"heavy-police-presence-as-annual-somme-parade-makes-its-way-through-east-belfast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/231057\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavy police presence as annual Somme parade makes its way through east Belfast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/3bc08e9c-7357-4101-8f2a-f91b510c4e75.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0b03471d-add8-4e6c-ae72-323f7a7cdc0b.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0b9ee56-4d21-48b7-9f0c-f6fdfbabac6e.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d2af8954-f124-4392-9ff7-c2ae1a8280ee.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Stephen Nolan at the Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7fe137f4-7638-415f-afca-f05028ef28c8.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Stephen Nolan at the Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/035d5e69-772b-445e-8eb2-b6f5ea623ac3.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/b8731e35-687a-4053-884b-af3fd78a84fd.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/34b5c86a-3935-4f5e-bf4b-33b382104701.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Police maintained a heavy presence as the annual Somme parade passed through east Belfast on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">It\u2019s understood arrests have been made.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">The parade is held in memory of thousands of Ulstermen who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of World War One \u2013 with around 2,000 killed and more than 3,000 wounded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">A parade in their honour has been held in east Belfast every year since the war ended.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1751429837_730_035d5e69-772b-445e-8eb2-b6f5ea623ac3.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">The parade, with more than 30 bands, set off from Templemore Avenue at 7.30pm, making its way along the Albertbridge, Ravenhill and Castlereagh roads, before returning to Templemore Avenue via the Upper Newtownards Road, Belmont Road, Holywood Road.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">There was a heavy police presence on Albertbridge Road due to it being on the Interface with Short Strand.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1751429838_261_0b03471d-add8-4e6c-ae72-323f7a7cdc0b.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Images show the PSNI approaching young people in the area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">Ahead of this year\u2019s parade, Ballymacarrett District LOL No 6 has asked everyone involved or attending to do so in \u201cremembrance\u201d and with \u201cdignity, respect, and gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">A post on Facebook adds: \u201cThe past few years has witnessed an alarming rise in crowds of young people consuming alcohol and encroaching into the parade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">&#8220;Indeed, the crowd encroachment is prevalent along most of the Newtownards Road from McDonalds until after the Skainos Centre.<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">&#8220;Remember, the reason for the parade is to remember with respect and dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo - Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/3bc08e9c-7357-4101-8f2a-f91b510c4e75.jpg\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"100%\" data-testid=\"article-image\"  \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening.  Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press<\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_caption1 beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_secondary beltel-66f0fec7_regular beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom0 beltel-1d70522a_marginleft0 beltel-1d70522a_marginright0 beltel-1d70522a_margintop3 beltel-b48c4984_left\" style=\"color:var(--color-grey-60)\">Watch: Lord Mayor hosts wreath laying ceremony to commemorate 109th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme <\/p>\n<p class=\"beltel-ebe0ecc6_root beltel-ebe0ecc6_paragraph beltel-300db776_none beltel-91174671_primary beltel-1d70522a_marginbottom5 beltel-1d70522a_margintop0 beltel-b48c4984_inherit\" style=\"color:var(--color-primary-80)\">The PSNI has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Annual Somme Parade passing through East Belfast on Monday Evening. Photo &#8211; Andrew McCarroll\/ Pacemaker Press The&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231058,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[29366,22305,1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-231057","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-east-belfast-news","9":"tag-garrett-hargan","10":"tag-northern-ireland","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114781713177076588","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}