Celebrities including Noel Gallagher, Susan Sarandon, and Adrian Dunbar have signed a letter supporting residents opposed to an Orange Order parade on the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown, County Armagh. The standoff has lasted 11 days, reopening one of Northern Ireland’s most contentious parading disputes. The letter, addressed to UK Minister Sir Chris Bryant, calls for an independent international mediator and emphasizes the residents' right to safety and peace. Notable signatories include Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, and Siobhán McSweeney.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
Oasis' Noel Gallagher, Oscar winner Susan Sarandon and Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar are among dozens to sign a letter in support of residents in a stand-off over a decision to allow a parade down a predominantly nationalist road.
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Gallagher → publish → road
While peaceful, the stalemate has reopened what was once the most bitter parading dispute in Northern Ireland.
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what → reopen → Ireland
Other people to have signed the letter include musician Paul Weller, Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney and The Smiths' Johnny Marr.
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people → sign → Weller
The letter speaks for itself'
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letter → speak → itself
The letter, addressed to Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant, calls on him to work with the Irish government to appoint an "independent international mediator" to "facilitate a robust, durable solution".
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letter → address → solution
It added that "central to any just resolution must be the primacy and protection of the local community".
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primacy → add → community
It also said it was "paramount that the residents be protected from any form of forced processions that disregard their consent, safety and right to live in peace free from intimidation".
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that → say → intimidation
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) declined to comment on the letter but it is understood the NIO has received it.
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NIO → decline → it
Dexy's Midnight Runners frontman Kevin Rowland, who signed the letter, told BBC News NI that it "originated from an honest response to the situation on the Garvaghy Road".
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it → sign → Road
"The letter speaks for itself.
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letter → speak → itself
It came about from conversations from those of us looking on from afar.
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It → come → us
"It was an organic process inspired by the courage of the residents.
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It → inspire → residents
As concerned individuals, we are not seeking to build an organisation or alternative platform to the voices of the residents.
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we → seek → residents
We would only wish to amplify their voices."
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We → wish → voices
Others among the 48 signatories include Trainspotting writer Irvine Welsh, movie director Ken Loach, Graham 'Suggs' McPherson from Madness, Kneecap, Imelda May, Maxine Peake and trade unionist Mick Lynch.
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Others → include → Madness
'We will not give up' - Orange Order
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We → give → Order
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the Orange Order said that the "lawful 35 continue to stand ready to exercise the legal right" they "have established for the first time in 28 years".
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they → issue → years
"We once more urge the PSNI to actually take positive steps to implement the determination.
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We → urge → determination
We have seen no such proper efforts being made, and in due course, a court will also have to scrutinise this."
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court → see → this
"We will not give up that legal right, as to do so would be to legitimise mob rule.
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do → give → rule
We will continue our dignified, peaceful and lawful stand."
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We → continue → stand
The statement added that they "remain open to dialogue in order to find a lasting resolution".
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they → add → resolution
"However, that must include the law being upheld and our legal rights being given effect."
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rights → include → effect
That morning, up to 1,000 people - including politicians such as Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill - blocked the road, preventing Orangemen marching from Drumcree Church a mile to the west.
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Orangemen → include → west
Since then, residents have maintained a constant presence around the road while Orangemen have also repeatedly tried to march the route before being turned back by police.
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Orangemen → maintain → police
The stand-off has caused considerable political fallout in Northern Ireland, with First Minister O'Neill facing a vote of no confidence over her involvement in the protest.
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O'Neill → cause → protest
The vote is due to fail due to it requiring cross-community support at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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it → fail → Assembly
Police are investigating the demonstrations in a "large-scale" criminal inquiry.
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Police → investigate → inquiry
Drumcree was one of Northern Ireland's most serious parading disputes, when stand-offs in the mid-to-late 1990s over attempts by the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road were accompanied by riots, roadblocks and killings.
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offs → march → riots
When the Orange Order was prevented by police from walking down the route in July 1995, there was a tense stand-off.
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Order → prevent → July
The Parades Commission began operating in 1998 to regulate parades and try to defuse tension around marches.
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Commission → begin → marches
Its decision not to allow a march down the Garvaghy Road that summer has been challenged by the order for the past three decades.
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decision → allow → decades
Earlier this year the Parades Commission decided that the march could go ahead with restrictions in place after its original decision to stop the march was overturned in court.
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decision → decide → court
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal is considering its ruling in a legal challenge brought by the residents to block the march going ahead.
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march → consider → residents
The Aporia
