A controversial parade organised by Northern Ireland's Orange Order is due to go down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road later this morning for the first time in almost 30 years
However hundreds of protesters, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and other nationalist politicians, have blocked the road
The parade was due to begin at 08:00 BST but Orangemen, who have gathered at Drumcree Church to begin their march, say they will wait until the road is clear
The Orange Order, the most prominent of the loyal orders associated with Protestants, say the Garvaghy Road is part of its traditional marching route but the event is opposed by many Catholic residents who live there
Sunday's parade comes after 24 hours of legal drama that went into the early hours of Sunday, with the High Court ruling that an initial decision to allow the march to take place had to be respected
The Parades Commission had ruled on Friday that the march can go ahead, but with 35 participants and no bands taking part
A dispute over the march in the 1990s sparked some of the most serious disorder in Northern Ireland's history, and led to the formation of the Parades Commission to adjudicate on controversial marches
The Prime Minister says he has spoken to Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant this morning and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin yesterday.
"I know it's a tense situation and we appeal for calm on all sides," Andy Burnham tells Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
"There have been big gains made in Northern Ireland and we don't want to see things go backwards."
The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Northern Ireland's second largest nationalist party, has also arrived on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
In a social media post on X, she says she's “standing in solidarity with local residents”.
“Allowing this parade to proceed violates the rights of people who live here. They must see sense and stop it.”
Activist Jamie Bryson (left) and DUP's Jonathan Buckley outside Drumcree Church
The story of today's march is mainly taking place across two locations in Portadown - the Garvaghy Road, where protesters have blocked the road; and Drumcree Church, a mile to the west, where Orangemen and supporters have gathered for the march to get under way.
Unionist politicians and campaigners are also at the church, with one activist - Jamie Bryson - heavily criticising the "so-called first minister for all" for "illegally blocking" the road.
Bryson says "there are now serious questions for Sinn Féin about their commitment to the law".
Jonathan Buckley, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), says "the court had its say" and "the law shall prevail".
"For 28 years, Sinn Féin and Garvaghy Road residents have told Portadown district (Orange Order) and the wider unionist community that the Parades Commission has reached its determination, people should abide by the law," he says.
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein are in the power-sharing devolved government at Stormont.
They are the two biggest parties; in effect they run Northern Ireland together.
But this issue has certainly laid bare the political divisions that still exist here; Sinn Féin and the DUP see this issue in completely different terms.
Northern Ireland is still a place where symbols, territory and identity really matter.
There's really no meeting of minds on this - save for First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly both calling for calm.
Image source, ReutersSinn Fein leaders have joined the protesters in Portadown as they call for the march to be halted
Image source, ReutersThe controversial march has not been allowed to take place since 1997, but the Parades Commission ruled on Friday that it could go ahead
We have a statement now from the Irish government, saying it has been following court proceedings in Belfast overnight.
It adds: "The government is monitoring the situation on the ground closely and will remain in contact with key interlocutors, including the Garvaghy Road residents.
"The government is very concerned about the situation.
"Our primary concern remains to avoid a return to the divisions of the past, recalling the significant progress made over many years in furthering reconciliation under the Good Friday Agreement."
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Carla Lockhart says First Minister Michelle O'Neill is "whipping up hysteria" at an unlawful protest.
She calls O'Neill's comments "outrageous" and the protesters a "rabble".
O'Neill, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and other nationalist politicians are currently part of the protest blocking the Garvaghy Road.
"The law is on our side," Lockhart, MP for the Portadown area, says.
"They're afraid of 35 men, walking down a road silently."
Mary Lou McDonald ( right) and Michelle O'Neill speaking to media on the Garvaghy Road
Mark Simpson
BBC News NI
Orangemen in Portadown are content, at this stage, to wait until the Garvaghy Road is clear.
Rather than postpone their parade, they are waiting in a hall at Drumcree Church for the go-ahead to march.
As things stand, that seems impossible. And it is unlikely to change in the coming hours.
In the 1990s, when Orangemen were prevented from marching, a long stand-off developed. Thousands of supporters gathered at Drumcree.
This morning, the 35 Orangemen are waiting alone and have not called for support on the ground.
Another difference from the 1990s is the weather. It is cold and wet. The Drumcree disputes 30 years ago were always at the height of summer in July.
There are big decisions to make for the police to make in the coming hours. One officer said in Portadown this morning “it’s a no-win situation, whatever we do”.
The Orange Order's Portadown District Master Nigel Dawson has been speaking to the media outside a hall at Drumcree Church, where they have been waiting out of the rain.
He tells Orangemen they will wait for the police to tell them the Garvaghy Road, which is currently blocked by protesters, is ready for them to parade.
"The position of the district is clear; we will abide by the police direction at all times throughout the course of today."
Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor
Image source, ReutersMary Lou McDonald (centre), with Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill to the left, speaking to media on the Garvaghy Road
With the legal avenue to stop the march having been exhausted in the early hours of this morning, Sinn Féin is pushing for some last-minute political intervention.
They’ve called on Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to use his powers to ban the parade but there is no sign that is going to happen.
He can act if the police ask him to review the determination to prevent serious public disorder.
As yet, there has been no such request.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin’s top team are on the Garvaghy Road.
They’ve vowed to stand with the residents despite the political consequences of taking part in what is an illegal protest.
Some, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill, will be accused of breaching the ministerial code but it is clear that is not a priority for the party right now.
Darran Marshall
BBC News NI
I'm standing at Drumcree Church, where the Orangemen have been gathering. There's a police presence here. It's raining heavily.
We can hear police announcements from the Garvaghy Road, which is about one mile away.
Each one is met by jeers from the crowd.
We can hear the crowd singing.
Image source, ReutersIt's nearly 08:30 in Portadown, County Armagh, but the controversial Orange Order march is yet to begin. Here's where things stand:
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Orange Order's planned parade - from Drumcree church on the outskirts of Portadown, down Garvaghy Road and to the town centre - is set to begin. But what is the Orange Order and why does today matter?
The Orange Order is a fraternal organisation that derives its name from William of Orange - the Protestant Dutchman who seized the throne from Catholic King James II back in the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688.
Two years later, 'King Billy' saw off James for good at the Battle of the Boyne, a moment the Orange Order celebrate annually during Twelfth of July celebrations.
The Twelfth is the biggest day of Northern Ireland's marching season, celebrated by the Orange Order every year from April to August, when Orangemen march to commemorate William's victory.
Most lodges march with a band, and the distinctive ceremonial outfits of Orangemen include suit and tie, bowler hats, orange sashes and white gloves.
For many Catholics, these marches are considered triumphalist and sectarian, with some traditional Orange routes passing through or by staunchly Catholic and nationalist areas.
Of all the routes, the Garvaghy Road route is perhaps the most contentious of all.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald is on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown along with party colleague First Minister Michelle O'Neill.
McDonald is the party's leader across the island of Ireland, while O'Neill leads Northern Ireland's devolved government as first minister.
"There must be no march through this community. That is how we restore calm, that is how we restore confidence," says O'Neill.
"This is primitive stuff in the year 2026."
O'Neill asks: "Why after 28 years of determination to block a march down this road that the Parades Commission thought this was the right idea today? To bring this mess back onto this community."
"I commend this community. We stand with this community and we will continue to stand with this community."
This map shows the route the Orange Order are due to walk this morning, from Drumcree Church on the outskirts on Portadown, County Armagh.
It takes them from Drumcree to Carleton Street Orange Hall via the Garvaghy Road.
Right now, the Garvaghy Road has been blocked by protesters, while Orangemen are gathered at Drumcree Church waiting to get the march under way.
Image source, ReutersNorthern Ireland assembly members and and MPs have joined the crowd blocking the Garvaghy Road.
Deirdre Hargey, Carál Ní Chuilín and Paul Maskey from Sinn Féin and Justin McNulty from the SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) are there and have linked arms with protesters.
Darran Marshall
BBC News NI
Just before 08:00, 30 Orangemen gathered outside Drumcree Church.
A police bronze commander then radioed his team and asked if the route was clear for them.
After a few minutes, he informed the Orangemen that the road was not clear.
They have returned to their hall, to avoid the rain, as they await a police determination that the road is clear.
Darran Marshall
BBC News NI
Orangemen have begun lining up at Drumcree Church ahead of a planned parade in a few minutes for the mile-long walk, which takes in the Garvaghy Road and ends at the Orange Hall at Carleton Street.
The Parades Commission, which decided the march could go ahead, put restrictions on the event, saying no more than 35 people and no bands were allowed to take part.
The Garvaghy Road is currently blocked by protesters.
Mark Simpson
Communities correspondent in Portadown
The focus of decision-making has been passed from the Parades Commission to the High Court to the police.
Senior officers will have to determine whether the march can go ahead or not, for security reasons.
As things stand, there is no clear path down the Garvaghy Road as protesters are blocking it.
The march is due to begin very soon - just before 8am - from Drumcree Church.
Decision time is approaching for the police.
