Northern Ireland year in pictures - July to September 2014

July saw the first feel of summer, with many taking advantage of a mini heat wave at the beginning of the school holidays by taking to the waters off the County Antrim coast.

On Eleventh night, bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland lighting up the night sky, giving pictures an apocalyptic look as photographers ventured to the Belfast hills.

The annual Twelfth of July parades took place, with tens of thousands of Orangemen and women taking part in celebrations. Thousands of people also attended flagship parades in Markethill, Larne and Limavady.

In contrast to 2013, there were no incidents as a return leg of a parade was prevented from passing a sectarian flashpoint in north Belfast. Senior Orangemen, including Grand Chaplain Mervyn Gibson, arrived in the area ahead of the parade as part of a group of marshals, Police removed barriers less than an hour after installing them as the parade passed peacefully.

Following weeks of speculation, Garth Brooks cancelled his five planned concerts in Croke Park after Dublin City Council only granted permission for three out of five proposed concerts for 25-29 July. Mr Brooks said he would play all of the shows or none, meaning disappointment for 400,000 ticket holders.

Northern Ireland marked the 100th anniversary of World War One with a gun salute over Belfast Lough. A single cannon shot was fired from Grey Point Fort in County Down.

A candlelit vigil was also held at Belfast City Hall, where hundreds of people held candles and took part in a UK-wide Lights Out commemoration, which saw houses' and buildings' lighting turned off with just a single candle burning for an hour.

Singer Van Morrison returned to his old school, Orangefield High in east Belfast, for concerts marking the closure of the school. The school was closed in June 2014 by the Department of Education.

Northern Ireland boxer Carl Frampton was honoured at a civic reception in Belfast. The event was organised after his victory over Kiko Martinez on Titanic Slipways, giving the Belfast boxer the IBF super-bantamweight world title. Hundreds of fans gathered for the public reception in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.

In September, former Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley, died aged 88. Baroness Eileen Paisley said her husband passed away and the family was heartbroken. DUP leader Peter Robinson paid tribute to Mr Paisley saying he was much more than a "colossus in unionism".

Politicians from every party paid tribute to Mr Paisley. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Mr Paisley and Martin McGuinness showed that it was possible to come through conflict and make friends with former enemies. Mr Adams is pictured signing a book of condolence at Belfast City Hall.