30 photos that captured the Twelfth celebrations back in 2015

It’s hard to believe a decade has passed since these moments were captured on the streets of Belfast. The Twelfth of July in 2015 was, like so many before it, a day steeped in tradition, colour and community spirit, but it was also a reminder of the tensions that can still simmer beneath the surface.

Our gallery takes you back to that summer’s day when thousands lined the streets to watch the bands march, the banners flutter and the Lambeg drums echo through the city. For many, it was a family day out with children waving Union flags, neighbours gathered at kerb stones, and streets adorned in red, white and blue bunting.

The photos capture the pride and pageantry that have long defined the Twelfth from the gleaming uniforms, the laughter between friends to the ice creams and cold cans on kerbsides as the sun beat down. There’s a real sense of nostalgia looking at these faces now; some will see themselves, their families, or how little has changed on these streets since.

But 2015 was also a year when trouble flared once again at the Ardoyne shops. As the parades passed, tensions rose, and clashes broke out between police and nationalist protesters who opposed the Orangemen’s return route past the flashpoint. The images show lines of riot police, angry crowds and the uneasy stand-off that came to symbolise the more difficult side of the marching season.

A decade later, we hope these pictures remind us of how far we’ve come, and how much work there still is to do to ensure every Twelfth can be a peaceful celebration for all.

Check out our gallery below and sign up to our nostalgia newsletter here.