DCC pass motion in solidarity with Garvaghy Road residents

Donegal County Council has passed an emergency motion expressing solidarity with residents of Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Sinn Féin councillor Gerry McMonagle proposed the council stand with the people of Garvaghy, having spent the last two days with residents.

The motion stated: “Donegal County Council expresses its solidarity with the residents of Garvaghy Road, supports their wishes to live in peace and free from sectarian discrimination and harassment, and affirms that communities must not be dragged back to the division and conflict of the past.”

The situation refers to renewed tensions surrounding the Orange Order’s Drumcree Parade. Since 1998, the Parades Commission has prohibited the Orange Order from marching along predominantly Catholic and nationalist Garvaghy Road.

The Orange Order has continued to submit an annual application to march along the route. In 2026, the appeals court ruled the march could go ahead, with limited numbers.

This inflamed tensions and led to residents gathering along the road on Sunday from morning until night, while the 35 Orange Order members waited at Drumcree Parish.

“This is an issue that was resolved 28 years ago; communities should not be dragged into the past,” Cllr McMonagle said. ​“I can't understand the judge who made the ruling that they could go down the Garvaghy Road. The PSNI did not give the security response they were supposed to, saying they were unaware of any trouble. You only have to listen to those people - they are out on the streets since this decision was made.”

​Twelve councillors supported Cllr McMonagle’s call for solidarity with residents, seconded by Cllr Terry Crossan.

​“Really glad members have signed this - nobody wants to go back to 21 people dying over a march down the road,” Cllr McMonagle continued. “Hopefully today's talks will bring some sense and this can be overturned. I hope there is a peaceful resolution and the residents of the Garvaghy Road can go back to living peacefully.”

The killing of Jason (9), Mark (10) and Richard Quinn (11) when their home was attacked by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, signified the most notorious consequences associated with the Drumcree tensions.

Cllr Tomas Sean Devine of the 100% Redress Party, who has family members living along the route, expressed his “full solidarity” and stated that he hopes this “sends a clear message from Donegal County Council.”

Independent Cllr Declan Meehan also backed the call, stating that “this is an extremely cynical last-ditch attempt to stir up old and dying divisions.”

Cllr Ciaran Brogan added that he wanted to “show Fianna Fáil’s support” and said, “it was a very dark time and we can’t go back.”

As a closing remark, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Councillor Gary Doherty said that: “The people of Garvaghy Road have been through far too much. They have lived through some of the darkest days in our recent history.

“I am appalled that a deeply divisive parade has been pushed on the community. This is not about denying identity - but nobody has the right to inflict fear or provocation. The people of Garvaghy Road deserve peace and respect.”

As of Monday, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant is set to hold talks with Garvaghy Road residents and PSNI officials.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme