Catholic Population Shifts Parade Debate | Belfast News

A former elected official is urging the Parades Commission to reckon with Portadown’s shifting demographics as the Orange Order seeks to march through Garvaghy Road—a route now lined with Catholic homes after decades of growth. With over 11,300 Catholics making up 34% of the local population and a thriving Catholic school proving community vitality, she argues the commission must acknowledge this reality. The push comes after a court overturned last year’s Drumcree decision, citing procedural errors—and amid painful memories of the 1998 violence that claimed three young brothers’ lives. While the Orange Order insists on marching post-service from Drumcree Parish Church, residents say the route’s transformation from open land to residential neighborhoods demands reconsideration. The official warns that re-evaluating the entire route could inflame tensions unnecessarily, when the real issue is just one contested stretch. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/parades-commission-needs-to-consider-growing-catholic-population-across-portadown-in-any-drumcree-decision-former-mla-says-OUOBY53ZEBDCJMTUX2DXQNYF64/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4d9df98abc213b91 Report issues to [email protected].