95 Comments

• johnymac60 | Aug 16, 2012, 01:09 PM EDT

  Belphagor, I understand that you find the term 'Orangies' offensive. I would like to make it clear that your attempted rewriting of the history of the island of Ireland, is offensive to those who actually lived it. Well I remember when you Orange ba$t aords marched into my home estate and burned the houses to the ground. Take your tearful "Orange Culture" crup and shove it. We won't forget. (intentional misspelling)

• irismonkey48 | Aug 04, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

  Are you serious? Is there not enough hatred and violence stirred up every year as it is. Will they be wearing their KKK outfits? I cannot understand the thinking that would even allow marches like these to occur in the first place. It is plain and simple a hate crime and should be banned.

• curtisjohnson | Jul 30, 2012, 09:12 PM EDT

  It's time to BEGIN "demonizing" and outlawing these bigoted squatters the same way in which their cousins in the Klan were marginalized in the US.

• RthrBHistCorr | Jul 30, 2012, 01:21 PM EDT

  "Grand Secretary says it is time to stop demonizing Orangemen" ..and its time for for members of the Orange Order to stop parading around Catholic Churches in the North playing "The Famine Song" as they AGREED they would no longer do, yet did this past July 12th. When the Orange Order starts behaving responsibly then they will see the "demonizing" stop.

• curtisjohnson | Jul 27, 2012, 10:05 PM EDT

  @Belphagor - please - this is pure comedy. The orange thugs burn the names of murdered children in effigy at their baal ceremony bonfires. What do you think would happen if the indigenous community organized a triumphal march through orange neighborhoods - massive violence against non-combatants in which the RUC/PSNI would encourage or participate in. I'm sure there were no orange"men" at holy cross terrorizing those schood children.

• JimmieM | Jul 27, 2012, 05:09 PM EDT

  Right...and all Catholics should be rounded up tied and forced to watch naked with their heads bowed in defeat so brave these little orangies.... really I think King Billy's warriors would be shamed to have these orange weenies march for them...just my opinion...

• Dublinlad | Jul 19, 2012, 09:37 PM EDT

  I think we should leave them do some marches. We are probably not ready for a O Connell street one though. I recon that leaving them come down would help them reconcile the Irish part of their british identity which they will have to do should we ever want peace on the whole island. There is an orange lodge in dublin and I've been challenged by reading some of the articles on their website. Google loyal orange Lodge 1313 if your interested.

• Belphagor | Jul 18, 2012, 11:28 AM EDT

  Jimmie the Orange Order do not throw rocks at anyone, they are a peaceful organisation, you know nothing son. I don't expect you to understand however, the principle behind the parades is no different than americans celebrating 4th July and less hypocritical than americans celebrating St Patricks Day, most of them haven't been born or lived in Ireland, enough said. By calling Orangemen 'Orangies' you are being offensive to Orangemen, just thought I'd point that out. I would also like to voice my disgust at the media's reluctance to report the weekly attacks on Orange Halls by Irish Republican thugs.Last week after a peaceful traditional feeder parade Republicans turned Ardoyne into a hell hole by throwing stones at protestants, the police and even burning cars owned by their own people. Later that night they fired shots and threw petrol bombs at the police. it wasn't Orangemen who did this, in fact if the orange order were ever to condone violence or become involved in it they would be banned, you need to read more about them before you insult them. Helen Ferone, for Ireland to 'reunite' it would first have to have been united and the only time it has ever been united was when it was governed as part of the UK, before this the clans in the four parts of Ireland were at war with one another.Despite what many americans think, Ireland and Britain have a good relationship, we are the same people and share the same culture, unfortunately there are a small number of people who try hard to create divisions and long may they fail.

• JimmieM | Jul 15, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT

  These orangies have to be the strangest meanest spirited people on the planet?....So insecure about who they are now they march to celebrate a victory hundreds of years ago?...they them selves had no part in the victory but try to grab credit? cant imagine the orginal victors would be pleased to share honors with these weenies ...they also like to throw rocks at little girls?...where do they come from?

• dingle999 | Jul 13, 2012, 04:41 AM EDT

  The first Orange Lodge in Nigeria was the Lagos Fine Blues LOL 801, which was first listed in 1907 in the returns of Woolwhich District 64 to the Grand Orange Lodge of England. Altogether there were three male lodges and one female lodge. They all appear to have died out some time in the 1960s, due to political unrest. Conversely the Ghana lodges increased greatly in popularity with the return of democracy

• seanomelb | Jul 07, 2012, 09:00 PM EDT

  amusing WoundedKnee ya gotta laugh at your cynicism.

• WoundedKnee | Jul 07, 2012, 03:36 PM EDT

  There are a lot of Nigerian Orangemen, indeed that country has one of the highest rates of Orange Lodges outside of Britain. Since there are tens of thousands of nigerians in Dublin, I am sure they have one or two Lodges. In the spirit of true multiculturalism, I suggest that Orangemen be allowed parade in Dublin, but only if they are Africans.

• Helen Ferone | Jul 06, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT

  I think its about time the Irish reunite, and give up this nonsense from long ago. They're entitled to march in the parade without any kind of violence, but that's not likely to happen, is it?

• IrelandNorth | Jul 06, 2012, 06:41 AM EDT

  If 'Gay' (sic) Pride can march in Dublin, why not Orange Pride - though both are quite understandable in culturally polar galaxies. If 33% of the Irish tricolour is orange, does that not predicate that 33% of marches in All Ireland should be orange. Is not the holy trinity of French/Irish republicanism - liberty/equality/fraternity! Even if 96% of 'Northern Ireland' unionists/loyalists/protestants would vote against the departition of Ireland(?), the percentage would be less in Ulster as a whole. Orangemen should be allowed march not just in the Ulster/Northern Ireland and Munster/southern Ireland - but also in Leinster/eastern Ireland and Connacht/western Ireland. The 26 county proto-republic administration could consult with Ulster/NI Parades Commission. There was no Irish Republic in 1690, only an Ireland generically. There's a difference between imperial unionism and democratic unionism. Contentious parades like Jeoffry's 'Love Ulster' (sic) was of the former variant. O'Connell Street is unsuitable. The Phoenix Park, as the largest enclosed park in Europe, could be easily secured for democratic Orangemen to parade along Chesterfield Avenue/Castleknock Road past Áras an Úachtaran, and easily accessible along North Circular Road from Ulster/NI (GoogleEarth it!) Whilst the church which styles itself the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church has some sackcloth and ashes atoning yet to do for the Crusades/Inquisition/institutional child sexual abuse, cultivating a hateful anthithetical religion to it, whilst understandable, is hardly Christianable. Don't just love NI but all of Ulster. Don't just love Ulster, but all of Ireland. Like concentrated Orange Squash, the instructions are 'dilute-to-taste!'

• Springfield9 | Jul 05, 2012, 08:51 PM EDT

  Better buy some surplus vests with plates from Iraq. Some very serious things could go wrong here.

• seanomelb | Jul 05, 2012, 08:36 PM EDT

  Spoken in true ignorance Ciara!if you have nothing to add to the debate Frack off

• mamaginnty | Jul 05, 2012, 01:04 PM EDT

  I have to give it to the O.O. bands, they are the best in the world but....I watched so many in the north and it wasn't just on the 12th of July, they practise'd for weeks around the streets and in the catholic area's the drum was beaten harder, the pope/catholic was cursed. The toughest anti-Catholics joined the O.O. Things are moving faster than we ever thought towards a United Ireland but for the Orange Men to Beat that drum for King Billy, through the streets of Dublin is just a little to soon for me to stomach.

• ciaradexy | Jul 05, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT

  Seano-'The question is, how do we move forward towards a better united Ireland??' Youre not even in it! Youre not in the same hemisphere so get over yourself! Nothing that happens in Ireland is of any consequence to you.

• citizen69 | Jul 05, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

  @monkeyapplenerd: Irish reublicans can and do march in central London & Central Belfast. Why you are comparing O'Connell street and the Shankill road i do not know. These members of the Orange Order are citizens of the Republic. They have a right to parade in their own country.

• Beedee | Jul 05, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

  Is this is a Civil rights thing? If so, is it not possible for any March of that kind to be hi-jacked just as the Civil Rights march was in August 1969 (?) which triggered years of terror in the North?

• Esmeralda | Jul 05, 2012, 05:14 AM EDT

  If you look at the members of the Orange Order living in the Republic as any other minority community group, they do have the right to express their culture where they live in the Republic.Just like for example the Polish or Nigerian community have.They then should be allowed to march in Dublin as well. But then Irish Republicans should be allowed to as the previous post states. However, how schizophrenic is this relationship,that the Orange Order seeks this opportunity to march in Dublin? Why, is it a primitive need to conquer more territory and people, i.e the rest of the Island. And does the fact that the most opposing groups on the Island are allowed to march in each others territory not make this island a whole entity? Is this the first step towards complete unification? I don't want to offend any of the communities just seeing this from the outside.

• monkeyapplenerd | Jul 05, 2012, 03:48 AM EDT

  If the Orange Order want to march down O'Connell St. in Dublin that's fine with me. But first they have to let Irish republicans march down the Shankill Rd. and in London.

• PolinDeB | Jul 04, 2012, 11:57 PM EDT

  Normalisation will take time. I lived in galway and used to drink in the Docks pub, each weekend they'd be a few lads looking nervous coming into the pub, it was always quiet. They'd order a few pints and you'd know they were from the North. Myself and my mate (also a girl) would greet them 'you guys down for the weekend', they'd look around and see feck all people there so would swallow and say 'yeah.. but we're from the otherside', waiting our reaction to see if we hated them. we used to buy them a pint.. theres been a lot of lies on both sides .. and it will take people time to realise we're all alike...

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT

  Seano.That is a very good question.How can the Orange Order make their marching culture more palatable to the rest of Ireland and to the world in general.What changes could they make?Does bigotry have to be central to their beliefs?Do they really have to be anti-catholic and beat up any unsuspecting mass goer?Was it really necessary to burn a few Catholic homes and shout fu*k the Pope while doing coitus movements in tandem to the beat of the lambeg drum to have a good Protestant family day out.Are Catholics over-reacting to their jolly celebrations.These are questions that need to be asked.Answers on a postcard please or Text 1690-1690-1690 to Billy Boy I will march where I fu*kin want.And to those who oppose Text 1916-1916-1916 to IRA Ye will in your fu*k.

• Tooreenagrena | Jul 04, 2012, 07:31 PM EDT

  The physical struggle may be over in the north but the political and propaganda battle is not. When republics express their belief in the forthcoming United Ireland unionists suggest the Republic should re-join the british commonwealth. This suggestion of an orange march in dublin is just more game playing. I thing the Orange fundementalists would be very happy to see another riot take place.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT

  For those of you out there who think the Orange Order are a bunch of racists.Which I have read below.You are completely wrong.They are a bunch of sectarian bigots.A racist is a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others.Bigots are prejudiced people who are intolerant of any opinions differing from their own.Let's be very clear that we know exactly what these Orangemen are.Bigots!!Not racists

• Murph46 | Jul 04, 2012, 07:07 PM EDT

  Simple solution-Hold it AFTER a British withdrawl of NI!

• seanomelb | Jul 04, 2012, 06:52 PM EDT

  If holding a parade in Dublin hastened the re-unification it might have some merit. An inclusive Ireland would have to acknowledge the right of parades representing all Irish people.We do not need triumphalism in the form of banners or bully boys in any parade. A parade with dignity may be a plus for reconciliation and certainly difficult for most people to swallow. The question is, how do we move forward towards a better united Ireland??

• seanomelb | Jul 04, 2012, 06:29 PM EDT

  @ Spartucusnorth. No it wasn't. It did not exist then. The whole gaff belonged to The Scottish/English King James at the time. 'The Muddy Skirmish of the Boyne' certainly took place in what is currently called The Republic of Ireland - a few miles south of the Border with of the neighbouring country ruled by the Queen of Northern Ireland and Great Britain! Btw: I'M spartucusouth! Hail! - and Slainte!

• Curitiba | Jul 04, 2012, 05:42 PM EDT

  citizen69: Thanks for clarifying that detail. However, the rest of your argument troubles me, it's a bit like "I'm not racist, I've got black friends, me." The OO is a completely bigoted and racist organisation, because it is anti-Catholic and anti-indigenous Irish. I can't see a problem letting Protestants have a parade in Dublin to celebrate their culture, but it's the whole anti Irish ethos of the OO that makes it so unpalatable. Until it repudiates this, it's going to be a problem.

• sparticusnorth | Jul 04, 2012, 05:30 PM EDT

  was not the battle of the boyne fought in the irish republic ??

• ddinning | Jul 04, 2012, 05:20 PM EDT

  Grand Secretary says it is time to stop demonizing Orangemen, why would one stop demonizing the devil. They are all about hate, they condone burning the Tri-Color, and have spin history to promote sectarianism. Last year two faced disciplinary proceedings by the Orange Order for going to the Catholic funeral of murdered policeman Ronan Kerr. I’m sure the Nazi Party would love to march in Israel.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 05:12 PM EDT

  @citizen69.My point is you don't see anybody's point.

• merefalow | Jul 04, 2012, 04:53 PM EDT

  i dont want to think about it,it dont feel one bit right.

• aloistmartin | Jul 04, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT

  Soon everything the I.R.A. ever Lived or Died for, will be so much Pss and Peanuts under London Bridge ! With Ireland`s Adulterous affair with the EU already Socially acceptable @?..! Just waiting for Dublin to make Ireland`s Return to the British Fold Official !

• durtymurphy | Jul 04, 2012, 04:23 PM EDT

  Let them march, the day after they allow the Artane Boys Band perform at the Scarva Battle of the Boyne reenactment.

• pilib04 | Jul 04, 2012, 04:21 PM EDT

  If you want a successful Dublin Orange Order parade, then sit down and negotiate with the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community and the Garvaghy Road Residents Association.

• pilib04 | Jul 04, 2012, 04:13 PM EDT

  Doesn't matter how it's framed, the OO won't hold a peaceful march in Dublin until we see an end to the contentious parades. There are only a handful out of the 3000 OO parades/marches, but the contentious ones have to stop.

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 03:30 PM EDT

  @sirpeter: Stop beating around the bush and make you point man. @Curitiba: Read the article, it's not the Northern Irish that want to parade, Quote:“Our members in the Republic would welcome the opportunity to hold a parade in their capital city.”. @CelticClothing: The O.O. is not a racist organization. It has black members throughout it's many lodges in Africa and Native American members in the USA & Canada. The Order is a large part of the culture for many Scots-Irish in Ulster.

• Irishphotograph | Jul 04, 2012, 03:09 PM EDT

  CelticClothing as a descendant of John Devoy (IRB) I could not have said it better.

• CelticClothing | Jul 04, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

  The orange order is a sectarian and racist organization that has no place in modern Ireland. Protestant culture such as the rich history of the Scots-Irish has a valid and welcome place in a modern secular democratic Ireland. However the 18th century anti-Catholic philosophy of the provocative Orange Order, and the current anti-Irish postureing of it's membership, has no place in our modern society. They should be confined to the perifery along with the other militants until they see no one is interested in their racist demonstrations and marches. I would even tolerate their racist parades if they would conduct them in a sports stadium or equivilant venue. Instead they must disrupt traffic, tourism and commerce throughout the north with over 3,000 parades every year from March to Oct. Croppies Lie Down. Disgraceful.

• Curitiba | Jul 04, 2012, 02:36 PM EDT

  Why do they want to march in Dublin anyway? I thought your average Orangeman would rather holiday in Iraq than ever cross the border to the land of their mortal enemy?

• SeamusMartin | Jul 04, 2012, 02:35 PM EDT

  Aw, let 'em march in the parade... with certain rules they must abide by (as all paraders). 1) they must follow and proceed with the speed of the parade. 2) No signs, utterances or gestures deemed inflammatory by the Official Dublin Parade Dial Rules shall be tolerated. 3) The Republic's Tri-Colour shall directly proceed and directly follow the Orangemen. 4) The viewing parade spectators are asked vehemently to also restrain from anything deemed inflammatory by the Official Dublin parade Dial. 5) All parade floats and bands must pay an entry fee. $100 euros for past participants and $400 euros for new entrants. Hope they march and are gentlemanly.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 02:28 PM EDT

  @citizen69.So what you are saying is YOU don't know the reason/cause/emotional reactions/intolerance towards the Unionist marching culture?If that is the case how can you give a positive reaction to Orange Order marching and say it should be tolerated when you DON'T KNOW the negative reasons for NOT tolerating it.

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 01:52 PM EDT

  @Sirpeter: Why, i wonder, are you asking ME to give you the reasons for other people's emotional reactions? Wouldn't it be better to ask those that made the comments directly why they are intolerant of unionist culture? Or those who would burn down hundreds of Orange/community halls?

• murphy666 | Jul 04, 2012, 01:46 PM EDT

  It would be like having a neo-Nazi parade in Skokie, Illinois, and we all know how that turned out.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 01:38 PM EDT

  citizen69.No you didn't.The reasons you gave are emotional reactions.For every emotional reaction there is an underlying cause.Can you give me the cause of the emotional reaction which causes this orange order marching intolerance?

• Searlit | Jul 04, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT

  I don't think the orange order parade should be tolerated, in order to please a few attention seekers who only seem to flaunt and taunt. Being a protestant isn't an issue, anymore.

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT

  @sirpeter: I JUST DID.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 01:05 PM EDT

  citizen69.So you CAN'T give me reasons why you think this aspect of their culture is not tolerated?

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT

  @sirpeter: As i said in my post, judging from most of the comments on here unionist/protestant culture is not tolerated. Also, not forgetting the last time Ulster protestants had a march in Dublin for victims of terrorism it was attacked by rioters chanting IRA slogans.

• sirpeter | Jul 04, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

  @citizen69 Quote"Unionist/Protestant culture not tolerated"Unquote.Can you give me reasons why you think this aspect of their culture is not tolerated?

• dickmac | Jul 04, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT

  No No No.......

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

  The Orange Order has been on the receiving end of a concerted campaign orchestrated by Republicans since 1990 to attack & demonise it's organisation, which in turn creates great tension and division amongst the two communities. In the most violent and terrible period of the troubles between 1969 & 1989, eleven Orange halls were burnt by arsonists. In the 22 years since a staggering 323 Orange halls have been burnt down or badly damaged by arson, and that doesn't include the hundreds more vandalised by other means. The order has over 800 halls throughout Ulster which are usually seen as the hub of local protestant communities, used by over 1500 different community groups with no connection to the Orange Order itself. They are an integral part of life for Protestants in rural Ulster especially. Those people who live in the Republic counties of Ulster should be allowed the same rights in their capital as anybody else. Despite Irish Central's sadly typical rabble-rousing headline there has been no "Shock" expressed by any media outlet or political party in Ireland.

• JBRAFTREE | Jul 04, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT

  Do ya' really think the Republicans of Dublin and the Taoiseach would stand still for a King Billy Dance down Dublin's streets????

• stephendoyle | Jul 04, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT

  I see many comments proclaiming free seech. Well you cannot yell " fire" in a crowded theatre. There are limits to free speech and causing public turmoil and violence is one of those limits. So please go use your free speech in another liberal stall. And one other noe - the picture in this story has a nice marching line with flags out fron and marchers in their best suits with their left hands all raised in honor. The smoke and bricks in the air, the torn and bloody clothing and the lying bodies in the streets will make a nice contrast to the pretty picture with this story. Oranges meets Dublin!

• chicksooze | Jul 04, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

  I guess lyoness55 has put us all in the corner facing the wall LOL

• lyoness555 | Jul 04, 2012, 12:07 PM EDT

  ha ha ha I dont know what all the fuss is about so they have on orange SO WHAT ?? GROW UP YOU IDIOTS STOP BICKERING LIKE SMALL CHILDREN .

• barneyjo | Jul 04, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT

  @oldboreen - The point of course being that they are no longer "Top Dogs" either in ROI or for that matter in NI where they made their last stand and lost!! The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland can no longer march WHERE they will, or WHEN they will, without dispensation from the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland. Granted the decisions on contentious marches can very often vary from year to year, and fly in the face of logic, but the premise remains, they cannot march at will. Portadown Lodge will only finally come off the hill at Drumcree by either a) using an alternative route to avoid the Nationalist Drumcree area, or B) by entering into dialogue with the local residents to reach a consensus. Now, considering this is LOL District Number 1; the first Orange Lodge EVER, it may be a long time before that happens, but that is their choice to make!!

• Fearbruscar | Jul 04, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

  Does anyone really think that an Orange Order march in Dublin would send a message to the citizens of the Republic that the Orange Order are the top dogs there? This is a ridiculous debate. Free speech should win the day.

• oldboreen | Jul 04, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

  No Portia777, not 'another battle of the Boyne',just another possible opportunity to further divide the people of the entire island.The marches were never intended as statements by either of the 'patriarchal religions'-brash and visibly assertive as they were with all the religious references carried on the ridiculous banners of both sides, but intended to be a visible reminder to the other tribe that 'We are the top dogs here and don't you forget it!

• bushmanirish | Jul 04, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT

  I've personally witnessed the race riots and anti-war protests in the US; words then bricks then guns. Nothing good will come of this parade business.

• lokionline | Jul 04, 2012, 11:48 AM EDT

  Now this is an interesting turn of events.
  
  First reaction: What the f... They have got to be kidding! (pure emotion)
  
  Second reaction: Wait, wait, wait... asking myself "would this not be a good way to bridge some painful history"? This thought occupied me for about a minute. (sober second thought)
  
  Third reaction: What do these parades stand for? Outside of the obvious celebration of victory I have to say I really don't know. They appear to be triumphalism to me. Do they really mean something different to the folks who would like to see these parades take place? (realization... more information is needed)
  
  Conclusion: I think the Orange Order have to make their case better.

• Fearbruscar | Jul 04, 2012, 11:47 AM EDT

  All parade permits are issued only after a contract is signed. If the terms of the contract are violated, then the signatories would not be likely to be invited back. So, enjoy your parade but behave.

• citizen69 | Jul 04, 2012, 11:44 AM EDT

  The people asking to march in Dublin are not people from Northern Ireland but citizens of the Republic of Ireland who happen to be members of the Orange Order. Looking at the responses here i have to say so much for the Proclamation of 1916 and the promise to "cherish all the children of the nation equally". Unionist/Protestant culture not tolerated. Is it any wonder 96% of Ulster Protestants would never vote for a United Ireland?

• CitizenWhy | Jul 04, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT

  The Irish government should insist that certain principles for their parades apply everywhere - North, South, England, Scotland, Canada, etc. These principles would have to include no attacks on anyone else' religion, no stirring of violence. The government could negotiate on this basis. Ov course the same principles would have to apply to other merches conducted by other organizations.

• jerrydonovan | Jul 04, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

  I totally disagree with what you say or represent,but,I will fight to defend your right to say it.It only becomes a problem to me if I allow it to be a problem.What was the line from the song"the band played Waltzing Matilda",the young people ask what are they marching for,and I ask myself the same question.Let them march ,ignore them, and the young people will ask what are they marching for?

• Fearbruscar | Jul 04, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT

  Like it or not, this is a matter of free speech. Let them march. They are as Irish as anyone else on the island and it is their right. Indeed, the Irish tricolor joins the green and orange traditions in the purity of nationhood. Their will never be a united Ireland until both sides respect the legitimacy of the other.

• oldboreen | Jul 04, 2012, 11:30 AM EDT

  NO! NO! NO! Time to disband ALL marches-North and South. Haven't we moved on from all that nonsense? We all know that the sole purpose of such marches, is for one side to assert superiority over the other. It has nothing to do with pride in one's identity or ethnic origins, it's entirely about hanging on to the past. One possible exception though,invite our Orange friends to march with us on Saint Patick's day,after all they lay claim to him too-even claiming he was a Protestant!

• like2tweet | Jul 04, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT

  As sson as they get rid of the 'kick the pope' marchign bands they are welcome tomarch

• chicksooze | Jul 04, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

  No. There's only one thing that can come out of this, more violence, and hatred, but of course they don't care about that, they just want to flaunt themselves as usual, whoever agrees to this with be responsible for any damage, violence and/or loss of life. How can anyone be so stupid as to even suggest this? But a lot of Dublin people are pretty pissed off with life at the moment so bring it on, I'm sure they'd be happy to lay out the welcome mats stephendoyle style...

• stephendoyle | Jul 04, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT

  when you think you have seen it all. it could not get any stupider, any wackier, along comes some inbred village idiot with this idea.

• timbobdennehy | Jul 04, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT

  fecking scottish

• Bythebay | Jul 04, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

  Americans attempting to butt in again in an internal matter in Ireland doesn't involve them and they have no say in.

• carrickcourt | Jul 04, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

  Interesting that in the area of Bailieborough in Co. Cavan there are Hibernian and Orange order lodges. The Orange Order lodges out number the number of Hibernian Lodges here. At one time there were separate bands for these organizations in the Bailieborough area for the Orange and the Hibernian's. Do partly to a lack of persons participating in these Orange and Hibernian bands now there is now a local Bailieborough band that includes members of both the Orange and Hibernian local lodges. There have also been combined Orange and Hibernian marches in the Bailieborough area. From many one, long live an Ireland with a USA tradition concerning matters of faith and believe.

• pounder | Jul 04, 2012, 10:51 AM EDT

  Buckle up lads,it's going to be a bumpy ride.

• stephendoyle | Jul 04, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

  OK!! I have torn down my shed, have plenty of bricks. Am going out to warm up my pitching arm, need to dust it off a bit with all this " peace" talk lately. Let the march begin!

• Ray1Gordon | Jul 04, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT

  When England gets its murdering, thug soldiers out of Northern Ireland, whose purpose has always been to oppress the minority Catholic population, then and only then should the Orange be allowed to march in Dublin.

• dickmac | Jul 04, 2012, 10:35 AM EDT

  No No No No ! Enough said

• Padraig8 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT

  Would Irish Central please publish the Oath the Orange Order requires of new Members and then ask its readers if they think it should be allowed to March in Dublin, or even in the north in the captive counties for that matter the Queen should have released the 6 counties from captivity when she was in Ireland. If she can read history she knows the truth. No excuses for the past Agression.

• hardshoe83 | Jul 04, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT

  What do I think about this? I'm protestant and I don't agree with this. That's what I think. No other way to say it. Don't let them do it. They just want to do it to show hatred and support for the british crown. Stop this march right now.

• dermotfastnet | Jul 04, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT

  Hopefully by consensus Nationalist and Unionist triumphalist marches should cease both in the north and south

• biggles008 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT

  F O R G E T ------ I T

• Portia777 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT

  When will these patriarchal religions ever realise how they have all been deceived and behind all of them is the shadow power that uses both to battle each other while they wine and dine together?

• manhattan | Jul 04, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT

  From the readers comments here I think they should hold off on marching. Painful memories are not so easily forgotten.

• Portia777 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT

  All predictable and pre planned in the knowledge of the division it will cause. Another battle of the Boyne?

• WoundedKnee | Jul 04, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT

  It was amusing to see how the great anti-clerical "liberals" of Fine Gael and Labor fawned over a representative of an organization which has a long history of bigotry and violence. Even today, an Orangeman is expelled from the Order if he marries a Catholic. The latter is of course an unlikely eventuality, given the bigotry and narrow-mindedness of the Orangemen. There are countless Northern Protestants whose memory should be honored in Ireland, from Henry Joy and William Orr to John Turnley, but none of them were Orangemen.

• stephendoyle | Jul 04, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT

  Ha, Ha! Let them march. I am sure the reception they get will " warm the cockles of my heart".

• dgomalley74 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

  People are so happy that the Catholic organizations are gaining vailidity in Northern Ireland which is not Ireland, but as soon as a Protestant group wants to have a parade in Dublin or Cork or where ever in The Republic, people are upset and say stupid, idiotic things. Let them march, show the same support the British government is showing Republican groups such as Sinn Fein is being afforded. The Irish government needs to do this and do it in a positive, healing manner. Its time to move on and leave the past where it belongs. Don't forget, but forgive.

• faberm1 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT

  Ireland may not be ready for "free speech". It is a difficult thing for a majority that doesn't agree with a minority to allow that minority to express itself, march, etc. However, if Ireland is truly to be a free country with human rights to all it should probably allow that minority (Orangemen) to march wherever they want to (with police protection) so long as they are citizens of the Republic. In protecting Orangemen's right of free speech all others are protecting their own rights even while differing greatly with them. This is difficult to do in a society. In the USA we are taught that we may not agree with the KKK, but we should be willing to die for their constitutional right and freedom to express themselves. That's not easy.

• tomgallagher | Jul 04, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT

  North and South...Irish standing together.

• irelandseye | Jul 04, 2012, 09:32 AM EDT

  I think the Orange parade in Dublin is a brilliant idea! I think we should counter that here in the USA with Al Qaeda marching in the Macy's Day Parade!!!

• donal1951 | Jul 04, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

  Feck the Orange Lodge

• Towngate | Jul 04, 2012, 09:12 AM EDT

  Oh,yes indeed, we do remember the warm welcome Dubliners showered on the poor divils even before got off their coaches and set foot on foreign soil! There were road-works taking place at the time so they had a plentiful supple of old bricks and broken paving slabs. This time they will have to bring their own! Hurrah for Peace! Hurray for integration,Hurray for a United..... sigh!

• esatdigiwank | Jul 04, 2012, 07:03 AM EDT

  Remember the 'Love Ulster' parade...? This, will be a march. I fear uncontrollable mayhem yet again.