Garvaghy Road standoff brings Northern Ireland’s old wounds back to surface

Portadown, Northern Ireland – On the Garvaghy Road in Northern Ireland, residents have spent days gathering to stand guard in their community.They have linked arms and blocked their road, preparing to stop a Protestant Orange Order parade from attempting to march through this predominantly Catholic area for the first time in 28 years.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Northern Ireland protesters block Orange Order march in Portadownlist 2 of 3Northern Ireland protesters block Orange Order march into Catholic arealist 3 of 3Protesters block Orange Order march in Northern Irelandend of listSome pitched tents. Others brought food and stayed through the night, keeping watch.“We’ll be here as long as we have to be,” said one local woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of violent reprisals. “I’ve seen the fighting when those Orangemen come along here, and I’m not having it back here – none of us are.”A demonstrator holds a placard, as people protest on the Garvaghy Road, a Catholic enclave in the largely Protestant town of Portadown, against the Protestant Orange Order’s annual Drumcree parade, in Northern Ireland, September 27, 2026 [Cathal McNaughton/Reuters]The Ora...