#A to Z BBC Help Terms of Use BBC Accessibility links * Skip to content * Skip to local navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk search * Help * Accessibility Help BBC News Northern Ireland * Home * UK * Africa * Asia * Europe * Latin America * Mid-East * US & Canada * Business * Health * Sci/Environment * Tech * Entertainment * Video * England * Northern Ireland * Scotland * Wales * UK Politics * Education 20 May 2011 Last updated at 05:29 GMT Share this page * Delicious * Digg * Facebook * reddit * StumbleUpon * Twitter * Email * Print RIR parade through Ballymena after Afghanistan return RIR soldiers Royal Irish soldiers will parade in Ballymena later Continue reading the main story Related Stories * RIR parade: Paterson to meet DUP * No RIR 'homecoming' parade - MOD * Army yet to confirm city parade About 200 Royal Irish Regiment soldiers will parade in Ballymena on Friday evening. The troops are being welcomed home from their tour in Afghanistan and exercising their freedom of the borough. The town's mayor, Maurice Mills, will address the parade which will be led by the regimental band. It is the first in a series of parades in NI for the RIR. However, an offer to march in Belfast was declined. The Ministry of Defence said it had turned down the offer from Belfast City Council due to "post-operational duties". There were protests at a previous parade in 2008. On Saturday, Lisburn City Council is to meet in special session to confer the freedom of the city on the RIR and the regiment will then parade through the city. The following day the RIR will gather at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast for a thanksgiving and remembrance service. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion TA who also served in Afghanistan will exercise the freedom of Castlereagh in a parade the following weekend, before moving to Hillsborough Castle for a ceremony with their families and friends in order to receive their medals. ‪ More on This Story Related Stories * RIR parade: Paterson to meet DUP 23 APRIL 2011, NORTHERN IRELAND * No RIR 'homecoming' parade - MOD 23 APRIL 2011, NORTHERN IRELAND * Army yet to confirm city parade 05 APRIL 2011, NORTHERN IRELAND Share this page * Delicious * Digg * Facebook * reddit * StumbleUpon * Twitter * Email * Print More Northern Ireland stories RSS * Edwin Poots speaking in the assembly on Tuesday Baby bug inquiry to be 'rigorous' An investigation is to be held into the Pseudomonas outbreak which has claimed the lives of four babies in NI, the health minister announces. * Bloody Sunday 'most terrible day' * McLaughlin Ulster future in doubt Top Stories * Soldiers in Free Syrian Army in Damascus (27 Jan 2012) UN action 'could spur Syria war' * Euro unemployment hits new record * Search of cruise ship abandoned * Republican rivals in Florida vote * French win India fighter jet deal Features & Analysis * Model cars and houses Golden salary What do people earning £1m ($1.5m) spend it on? ______________________________________________________________ * Planet Earth Planet mass Do rockets fired into space make the Earth lighter? ______________________________________________________________ * Occupy DC protesters shout slogans Day in pictures 24 hours of news photos from around the world ______________________________________________________________ * A foreclosure (repossession) sign in front of a house Money talks Has wealth become a liability in the US Republican race? ______________________________________________________________ Most Popular Shared 1. 1: Brits barred from US after tweet 2. 2: Skin transformed into brain cells 3. 3: Policeman who became a pole-dancer 4. 4: How 'Europe' became a dirty word in US election 5. 5: Pythons link to mammals decline Read 1. 1: Brits barred from US after tweet 2. 2: F1 driver Adrian Sutil convicted 3. 3: French win India fighter jet deal 4. 4: Navy sends destroyer to Falklands 5. 5: What do people on £1 million salaries do with their money? 6. 6: Search of cruise ship abandoned 7. 7: Pythons link to mammals decline 8. 8: Snake bursts after gobbling gator 9. 9: Is the Earth getting lighter? 10. 10: Euro unemployment hits new record Video/Audio 1. 1: Europe struggles in grip of snow Watch 2. 2: 'Shame on you Simon Cowell' Watch 3. 3: One-minute World News Watch 4. 4: Beijing's pole-dancing former policeman Watch 5. 5: One way to find a rich Russian husband Watch 6. 6: How computers help Sweden's ice sculptors Watch 7. 7: Mystery illness at US high school Watch 8. 8: Fear factor: The science behind America's red/blue divide Watch 9. 9: How to play 'kung fu' piano Watch 10. 10: Life after death faces legal battle Watch Elsewhere on BBC News * India's Tirupati Temple. 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