It is July 12th week when Northern Ireland resounds to the pounding of the Orange Order’s Lambeg drums as they commemorate their distant victory over Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne.
The year 1690 never seems as alive as it does during Orange marching week. Bonfires, “kick the Pope” bands and displays of triumphalism all take over as the masses seek to insist that “God is a Prod,” as one Orangemen memorably remarked.
Despite best efforts in recent years to somehow portray the Orange marches as cultural rather than triumphal events, the reality of the sectarian swagger deep in the souls of the serried files of Orangemen marching is never far away.
Yes, we have progressed mightily in Northern Ireland, but in spite of rather than because of the Orange Order.
This is a group that continues to refuse to negotiate over marches through Nationalist areas, a group that most recently brought Northern Ireland to the verge of conflagration over the over the contentious Drumcree march.
They have been a massive brake on progress, unyielding and unflinching in their sense of superiority and their right to rule.
The 12th of July week is known as the marching week and Catholics fear it, knowing that every sectarian lout will take the opportunity to foist his poison on the other side.
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Years ago the croppies did lie down and the Orangemen had their day, but the Nationalist community will not accept such bully boy tactics any more.
In fairness many leading Unionists also recognize the need to change, and the power sharing government is an overwhelming acknowledgement of that.
But like the dissident IRA groups on the Nationalist side, there are still irredentist forces on the other side such as large elements of the Orange Order.
But Northern Ireland has moved on from such tribal hatreds in so many ways.
The police force is finally an integrated one, a fact most powerfully shown recently when Nationalist politicians and institutions stood up and were counted after a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer was killed by dissidents.
In addition, there have been tremendous sporting successes by Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy in particular, winning two major golf tournaments for Northern Ireland. McIlroy’s decision to embrace his Northern Ireland identity as a Catholic has caused much comment, including a major feature in The New York Times this week.
It is a symbol of the new Northern Ireland that he has successfully navigated the treacherous territory that religion and identity represents there.
Golf, like rugby, has always been an integrated sport in Northern Ireland, which has helped McIlroy’s case.
But nonetheless, there will hardly be an Irishman alive from whatever part of the land who will not be cheering him and McDowell on, as well as Dublin’s own Padraig Harrington, as they tee off in the British Open this week.
That is how it should be, and it is time that the Orange Order as well as the irredentists on both sides got that message that we have the basis for an agreed Ireland, where no one side wins, but both sides can play the game.
The Orange Order days are numbered in a new, pluralist Northern Ireland. It cannot happen fast enough.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Aughavey | Jul 17, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT
What a silly article. The Orange Order`s numbers are declining slowly more or less inline with declining church attendance of the main denominations like the church of ireland and the presbyterian church - instead the young folk join the marching bands instead of the lodges as they are more in tune with the drinking culture and night clubbing. Another silly statement is that the 12th of the July celebrations are about Protestant victory over Catholics when in fact it is about `Glorious Revolution` ushered in by the joint rule of William and Mary which saw the 1688 Bill of Rights and supremacy of Parliament over Monarchy as William ceded power to Parliament. Both William`s army and deposed Catholic King James of Englandarmy were mixed with Willimas elite Dutch guards being largely Catholic. The battle was in fact a European Battle with William of Orange being part of the League of Augsburg supported by the Pope who were against the despotic King Loui of France of who King James of England was a vassal. William of Orange was married on King James daughter and for the first time in history their was joint rule as William & Mary ascended to the throne jointly. The OO are nothing like the KKK - they have entirely black lodges in AFrica and a Mohawk lodge in Canada. They are the same as the Catholic only Ancient Order of Hibernians except one is Catholic and the other Protestant. THe Orange Order doesnt believe or teach anything that the Protestant churches do not teach. Now why the heck would Tourism Ireland and the Republic`s government be promoting and funding Orange events if they were akin to the KKK? Doh!
Wingeire1 | Jul 17, 2011, 05:12 AM EDT
From EdmundBurke:That would include the Orange Order, which does not necessarily have to be a racist or provocative organization. Ever seen the OO in action Edmund? No, they don't have to be racist and sectarian and violent. Nonetheless, they certainly are all of that. If there were 1000 parades of the KKK in say, Connecticutt over a two month period, do you think the population there wouldn't be protesting? The OO or LOL are nothing more than dressed up Klan.
seanomelbourne | Jul 16, 2011, 09:37 PM EDT
Hitler called it "the master race" how exceptional is that.
odonnell521 | Jul 16, 2011, 05:18 AM EDT
You've got the Orange Order in NI, and their descendants in the States form the intellectual backbone of the Tea Party - only over here they call it American Exceptionalism rather than Protestant Ascendacy. Either way, nothing but a bunch of eejits using history to mask their basic hatred, distrust and envy of others.
seanomelbourne | Jul 15, 2011, 07:59 PM EDT
Maybe they should wear orange pointed hats.The LOL is a bigoted anti-catholic anti-nationalist organisation.A bunch of self serving racist who never accepted the GFA.
edmundburke | Jul 15, 2011, 07:34 PM EDT
From reading the header, I thought McGoldrick was going to report on data showing a fall off of Orange Order membership. Alas, no such thing; the story was merely an excuse for Orange Order bashing, a tough theme to play to a largely Irish American readership. I would strongly suggest that my fellow Irish Americans reach out to their nearest Irish consul general and find out what the Irish government's current attitude is toward the Orange Order and Protestant NI in general. I think you would be surprised to find that there is a concerted attempt by the Irish establishment to make the Good Friday Peace regime work in part by showing consideration for the Protestant culture in NI. That would include the Orange Order, which does not necessarily have to be a racist or provocative organization. (Point well taken by commenter that Orange marchers themselves rarely instigate any violence.)
citizen69 | Jul 15, 2011, 12:15 PM EDT
Just to even out the bias from McGoldrick just a wee bit... There are well over 2000 orange marches throughout the year, only a tiny handful of these marches are a point of contention, mainly the one past Ardoyne. This parade does not march through the heart of a republican area... on July 12th it travels down the main road on it's journey from the Orange hall (itself in a protestant area north of the city)to the city centre. At Ardoyne it passes store fronts on the mainly republican side and on the other side is housing of mixed religion taking in the streets of Somerdale, Mountainview & Twadell. It takes less than two minutes to pass this distance on foot. The bands play no music at this point, nor are their supporters allowed to walk past Ardoyne. The parade is not detoured to specifically walk past a nationalist area. The area used to be traditionally a protestant area when this parade first took place. Re-routing this parade isn't really an option as there is no way for the parade to get from A to B without passing a nationalist area, this happens to be the least contentious route possible. Now i would argree that it would be in the interest of the country as a whole if this parade never happened. Now also bear in mind that it is not the orangemen who carry out the violence at this location every year, it is republican youths, and it is organized to happen every time by dissident republicans. Simultaneous riots happen in other republican areas where there is no parades at all. This is an effort to use violence to have this parade stopped. The Orangemen's opinion is that they wont let this threat of violence make them stop the parade. Almost all Orange parades are in protestant or neutral areas. It's usually only this handful where trouble flairs and I agree that urgent talks between the OO & residents to see how we can avoid this mess in the future.
snakehips | Jul 15, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT
I am amazed how people fill the void in their lives with this antiquated nonsense. Worse yet, death and severe injury still ensues from this nonsense. It is also true that the economic minority will soon outnumber the Orange Order types. What will they all do then,fight until the last person standing?
hancock | Jul 15, 2011, 11:44 AM EDT
Spare me the victim routine.... unless its my victims lol Realist.
mamaginnty | Jul 15, 2011, 11:06 AM EDT
Yes REALIST, it DOES upset me and always will, never moreso than when I go up to visit my family and relations graves, I was not on about last weeks trouble, who started that?? How dare you say " spare us the victim routine " realist you are braindead if you think there were no victims. you are one of the many who do not like to hear the truth and say bugger you jack I'm all right....just as they do not like to hear..."It was not a Famine for the Irish Catholics, it was a Holocaust" get this, the RUC killed well before the IRA stepped in, why were the soldiers brought in, welcomed by the catholic community, and then hated. " Come live it to know it "
joycean | Jul 15, 2011, 07:50 AM EDT
Hi Ellen, "irredenta: a territory historically or ethnically related to one political unit but under the political control of another." Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. I've always seen it used to mean refusing to accept defeat.
Realist | Jul 15, 2011, 05:46 AM EDT
mamaginnty: "I am going to rest now this day as it hurts so much to remember it all"....lol. Really? All of 10 minutes? Spare us the victim routine. Explain the riots in the Bogside, Ardmore, and Gobnascale areas of Londonderry then. How many Orange marches passed through there?
Realist | Jul 15, 2011, 05:42 AM EDT
Johnymac60: "As for the RUC. The IRA did not prevent Catholics from joining at all. The RUC themselves, shooting Catholics in the street sort of made Catholics leery of them"? Well, let's examine the facts shall we? During the 'Troubles' the RUC killed 44 Roman Catholics, by way of comparison, the IRA killed 343. In fact the only two PSNI officers murdered (by the 'continuity' IRA) were both Roman Catholics.
ellenfromcork | Jul 14, 2011, 09:34 PM EDT
What are "irredentist" forces?
JBRAFTREE | Jul 14, 2011, 07:23 PM EDT
I'm surprised any of those marchers even know who "King Billy" was.
cillowen | Jul 14, 2011, 04:29 PM EDT
look at those charlie chaplin wanna bees a strutting their apartheidness like hasidims.
Sparklet | Jul 14, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT
The celebration of historical battles where thousands were killed should not be allowed in a society where both sides are trying to co-exist peacefully.
mamaginnty | Jul 14, 2011, 02:38 PM EDT
As for the Orange walk, it was never just a 12th of July thing, they practiced for weeks before, and made sure it was up and down the catholic areas. We would hear them shout " this is the popes head " and beat the drums harder. If you dared to try and cross the road in front of them you would surely be beaten later. Yet I can still say they have the best bands in the world....IF ONLY... I am going to rest now this day as it hurts so much to remember it all.
mamaginnty | Jul 14, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT
I agree that the media should never mention a person's religion as with Rory. As for catholics being shot in the 60s-70s for joining the police force, the never did until well after the G.F.Agreement. The R.U.C. were every bit as bad as the loyalist UDR or UDF. They were armed, broke down your door on the pretence they were looking for "joe soap one of them pope loving bast...s" you had to stand back with your young children while they turned on the sink tap upstairs and flooded your home, this was always a great laugh with the RUC, the men had no work unless you were lucky...very lucky to find a catholic employer. A lot of people do not seem to realize it was the catholics that ask for soldiers to protect them from the torment they were recieving from the R.U.C and loyalist groups. That was the biggest mistake we ever made, they gave arms to the protestant groups, forced thier way into homes just like the RUC. Our rebels came in force then, we can never call them terrorists. You can rip me all you want with comments, but I was a mother who had her home flooded 3 times in one year, and I swear to God my family had done nothing wrong to offend them, They... were offended because I was a Catholic.
johhnyb | Jul 14, 2011, 02:17 PM EDT
Hi Johnymac60. Just lived in NI all my life. What about you?
RichardP | Jul 14, 2011, 01:40 PM EDT
Debbie you are dreaming in technicolour if you think the nasty, bigoted, sectarian hatemongers of the Orange Order are going away anytime soon. Sadly their days are anything but numbered.
johnymac60 | Jul 14, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
@johhnyb, it's pretty clear you are ignorant of life in the North of Ireland. Let me fill you in, bud. Check out the Belfast Telegraph. There was significant commentary on the forums on the matter of discussion of Rory's religion/loyalty etc. You can look me up there if you like. As for the RUC. The IRA did not prevent Catholics from joining at all. The RUC themselves, shooting Catholics in the street sort of made Catholics leery of them. have a nice day.
joycean | Jul 14, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT
rugbyplayer, But then, they would have to take their chances for Green Cards. The US only releases 1million a year, and people from all over the world want them.And they would have to deal with 300million other people who are already here who don't give a rat's ass about King Billy; and don't even know where Northern Ireland IS, or even WHAT it is (The northern part of Ireland? Where's Ireland?). I understand there are some Orange Lodges in Canada; they might be more comfortable there among others of their "British heritage." But then, the Canadians are so laid back, nobody cares.
Liamkeyes | Jul 14, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT
Both traditions have always played as a team in Rugby and done quite well. It can be pointed out that Rugby is an upper class sport but it is being embraced by both traditions e.g. Munster and Leinster. Ulster has always had both representing them and Connacht is on the move also. In the meantime I will be cheering for Rory, Padraig and Graeme in the British open.
stephendoyle | Jul 14, 2011, 11:08 AM EDT
Johhny- I did not know he was a catholic until you just told me. And on that I agree with you, it does not matter. But he is not sticking a golf club into a hornets nest trying to get the bees stirred up either.
bostonblakie | Jul 14, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT
Gotta love anybody that won't let go of 1690.
johhnyb | Jul 14, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT
What I mean by biased: For example, I didn't know that Rory McIlroy was a Catholic until I read your article. I just thought it was great that he was from Northern Ireland and one of the world's best golfers. However, Irish Central feels we need to know that he is a Catholic. What is the relevance and how does that advance integration of the 2 communities? I'd love to know. Best wishes. John
rugbyplayer | Jul 14, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT
Let's face it, the UK would love to rid itself of the troublesome and backward Northern Ireland province which is an embarrassment for the UK and for Europe in general. The loyalist Otange thugs and their supporters would be much happier if they found a comfortable home by emigrating to the USA where at least 1000 hate groups like Orange loyalists and idiots abound.
stephendoyle | Jul 14, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT
johhnyb- biased? This would be the same as myself taking a walk thru harlem with a KKK hood on. Not only would I not expect to get out alive but I am putting the lives of others at risk to come get my body out of there.Don't confuse the right to free speech with "inciting violence".
ancavker | Jul 14, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
johny: Long before the the troubles broke out again in the late 60's early 70's, Catholics did not join the police force. Talk to some of the old timers they will tell you just how how bigoted the old RUC was.
johhnyb | Jul 14, 2011, 09:40 AM EDT
So much bias it's not easy to comment. Just a quickie however: 'The police force is finally integrated'. For decades the IRA murdered any Catholic who joined the police and then successfully claimed that the force was Protestant. Went down well with the Yanks though, it kept the money flowing to them.
seanomelbourne | Jul 14, 2011, 09:35 AM EDT
the orange brick road to lala land
stephendoyle | Jul 14, 2011, 09:28 AM EDT
I believe that if the orange order was sent a bill to pay for the costs of security to stage their "instagating walks" you might see an end to them. And on a sidenote, if you have to look back over 300 years to find something worthy to get you out of your house for a walk, that shouold tell you something......
antoman | Jul 14, 2011, 09:17 AM EDT
The KKK has the white hood the orange order have the sash.
Rebelforce | Jul 14, 2011, 09:07 AM EDT
I don't think there is any question that we would have riots in America's inner cities too if we allowed the Ku Klux Klan "the right" to celebrate their "heritage" by forcibly marching through Afro-American neighborhoods under police protection. This should be a no-brainer. These sectarian, violence-provoking marches should not be allowed in areas where they can absolutely be expected to arouse the ire of the people. It also would be helpful for us to know the religious breakdown of the youngsters who were arrested in the civil disturbances caused by these sectarian marches. We know that rioting occured from both the loyalist and nationalist side. How many nationalists were arrested by police and how many loyalists? Were the "rubber bullets" fired in equal numbers at both Protestant and Catholic inner city youths? This information needs to be reported so that we can assess just how reformed the "new" Northern Ireland has become.