IT TOOK 36 minutes for the 1,300 Orangemen to parade downs the Garvaghy Road to the continuous sound of a single drum beat. They marched past angry Catholic residents as rows of RUC Land Rovers and RUC in riot gear lined the streets.
After four days of a stand off at Drumcree and violence across the North, the parade was finally pushed through to the disbelief of locals.
The angry response of Catholics at the start of the parade contrasted sharply with the rapturous welcome for the marchers from thousands of Orange supporters at the other end of the road it was as though they had returned from war.
The Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble, slipped into the second row of the parade as it neared the town centre. He would not talk to reporters but told supporters "we could not get agreement but (Archbishop Robin) Eames did well for us".
The deputy grand master of the Orange Order, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, said "it was a victory for common sense".
As the marchers passed through the Catholic area, they were watched, by several hundred locals. Some jeered Orange bastards" and "call yourselves Christians".
About 30 Catholic youths threw petrol bombs and stones at the RUC over the previous four days the RUC had chatted freely with Catholics.
After the parade had passed, the scene degenerated into a riot on Garvaghy Road, with three cars turned over and set on fire. Street paving was ripped up and thrown at the police.
First signs of developments yesterday came just before 11a.m. when an RUC officer at Drumcree said they were making "contingency plans".
Shortly after noon, an announcement came over the church tannoy that the parade was going through, to be led by the Star of David accordion band. The crowd cheered. The announcer warned there must be no sign of any triumphalism anywhere along the route. To do 150 would be folly for any future parades. Remember to wear your collarettes and walk with pride and dignity. There will be no flags.
There were further cheers when British soldiers cleared the barbed wire and barriers across the "front line". Hundreds of loyalist supporters lined the narrow country road and about 100 Orangemen stood at the barrier.
The march from the church started at 12.45 p.m., minutes after the RUC moved 200 sit down protesters off the street three quarters of a mile away. One protester said. We re sitting here because we don't want Orangemen going through our area." The RUC beat the Catholic protesters off the street as they held their sit down protest against the parade.
At the top of the hill, the 1,300 marchers, in full regalia, moved through their supporters to begin the parade. The district master, Mr Harry Gracey, was among the leaders of the parade which moved past army lorries and up the country road to the first housing estate at Ballyoran.
An eerie quiet prevailed as people stayed indoors. A police blocked road entrances.
But by the time the silent marchers got around the corner and down onto Garvaghy Road, hundreds of Catholics had gathered on the green overlooking the road. RUC Land Rovers lined up end to end, with officers facing the crowd.
Reporters and camera crews dashed in front and alongside the parade. "Are you a journalist?" a young man asked. "Well, that there is mob rule. The Orangemen run riot and they get what
As the jeering and stone throwing began, one man said he was "sickened" that the Orangemen had been let through. "The police let them through because it's their brothers, fathers, sons and nephews who are marching."
Shops along the route were closed. Army helicopters hovered above, monitoring the progress of the parade.
Further along the route, at another block of houses, rows of police with riot shields moved to block the residents who threw petrol bombs and stones.
Some 20 minutes later, the parade reached the Protestant Woodside area and smiles of relief broke out on the Orangemen's faces.
At least 20,000 cheering people greeted them as they marched into the town centre and up to the Orange Hall at Carleton Road. They lined the streets and waved Union Jacks and Ulster flags. Some gave the marchers orange lilies and clapped them on the back.
The British national anthem was sung and then the Orangemen disbanded. There were no triumphalist comments to reporters but one senior Orangeman remarked to a friend. "We struck a blow at the Fenians."
Another said. "I'm just glad it's over."
