Orangemen marching in Rossnowlagh. Photo North West Newspix.
This will include the annual parade at Rossnowlagh in Co Donegal.
In a statement, Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said: “It is with regret that I must cancel the 2020 Boyne Anniversary Parades.
“In the face of the growing crisis surrounding Coronavirus it is in the best interests of our members, their families and the wider community that this decision has been made.”
Mervyn Gibson, the grand secretary of the Orange Order says Twelfth of July celebrations have been cancelled and not postponed as “rather than hang on and postpone it and have to postpone it again, we decided to cancel it this year”.
“There’s no point in bringing hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets just to add to the difficulties,” Mr Gibson told BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback show.
He added: “Of course people will be disappointed, but there are alternative ways we can look at celebrating the Twelfth online and different ways, we are looking at those at the minute.
“We also feel at this point of time that our members’ energy and resources need to be focused along with the rest of society in fighting against Coronavirus.”
