NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Orange Order leader to address Irish Senate for the first time

Orange Order leader to address Irish Senate for the first time

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, July 1, 2012, 9:50 AM

Updated Sunday, July 1, 2012, 9:50 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

7 Comments

Drew Nelson, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

Drew Nelson, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, will address the Seanad at Leinster House at noon on Tuesday, July 3. It will be the first time a member of the Order will formally speak in front of senators at the Dáil, according to TheJournal.ie.

Seanad chairman Paddy Burke said it was "another step on the path to sustained peace and reconciliation."

“It also presents an opportunity for our people to learn and build understanding about the Orange Order,” he added.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said, “This is an important moment for the country and it further strengthens the relationship and respect that continues to grow amongst all communities on our island.”

Nelson, speaking to the Belfast News Letter, said that such an invite would have been “unthinkable” up until a few years ago.

The invitation was extended to the Unionist leader earlier this month ahead of the upcoming centenary commemorations and program of events the government is planning and that will take place over the coming years.

Nster.com

E-mail

7 Comments

See all comments

Aughavey | Jul 03, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT

Drew`s full speech is on the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland website now or at orange-order dot co dot uk

Report abuse

Aughavey | Jul 03, 2012, 08:46 AM EDT

Why is he bigotted Dev? Name one thing the Orange Order believes that the Protestant Churches around the world do not believe! Seanmor - Grand Lodge of Ireland is like most of the Protestant Churches which are organised on an all-Ireland basis. There was a Grand Lodge of Ulster but presume it was similar to Grand Lodge of Londonderry or a County Grand Lodge. There are Grand Lodges in Scotland & England as well as USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana & Togo

Report abuse

michaelidaho | Jul 01, 2012, 08:45 PM EDT

Good step in the right direction. It is much better that the Nationalist and Unionist communities continue to engage in peaceful dialogue with each other, rather than resort to violence. That did not work out too well the past few centuries.

Report abuse

Seanmor | Jul 01, 2012, 05:37 PM EDT

The speech to be made by the Grand Secretary of he Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland to the Senate of the Irish stis very much deserving of our attention. Due to my very slight connections with the Nolrtheast corner of the homdland, I have here an orange colored page (11 inches by 8), the title of which is "Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland". I find it most interesting that the Orangemen use IRELAND as the name of their national organization; they do NOT call themselves the Orange Order of Ulster, of G.B., of U.K or any other British entity. Their official name is most appropriate since -unlike the Dáil - they have members from both sides of the artificial Partition.It is my understanding that Orangemen believe the Bible to be the word of God -whom we all ask to bless and protect all olf Ireland.

Report abuse

aloistmartin | Jul 01, 2012, 05:07 PM EDT

Our "Lady of the Lamp" Bourgeoisie will not stop until All the I.R.A ever Lived or Died for, is so much Pss under London Bridge !

Report abuse

dev4 | Jul 01, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT

who is next on the list of bigots invited head of the kkk

Report abuse

dev4 | Jul 01, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT

why invite this bigot

Report abuse