The Orange Chronicle        

Based on articles in the Belfast News Letter

Global Orange Celebrations

Canadian `Twelfth`

PREPARATIONS are taking place across the globe for the annual Twelfth celebrations on Monday.

One of the largest parades outside Northern Ireland will be taking place in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, July 11.

It will be the 189th consecutive display by the Orange Lodge of Toronto and is North America's longest consecutively held parade.

The parade begins at 11am from Moss Park Armoury, proceeding along Queen Street, Bay Street, College Street, Yonge Street and Shuter Street before arriving back at Moss Park for approximately 12 noon.

The procession will be led by the Deny Flute Band of Toronto and County Master Edward Kelly and Sister Barbara Mooney of the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association are expected to place wreaths at the City Hall Cenotaph.

The parade will feature ribbons bearing the logo "Support the Troops", in solidarity with the 2,900 Canadians serving overseas.

More information about the Toronto lodge can be found by logging on to their new website www.orange.ca which was launched yesterday.

Scottish Twelfth attended by Northern Ireland First Minister

First Minister Peter Robinson will be the guest speaker at one of Scotland’s major Orange demonstrations. He will deliver the keynote address at the demonstration in Cumnock, Ayrshire, which is second only to the main march in Glasgow.

Ian Wilson, grand master of the Orange Lodge of Scotland said: “We are delighted that Peter Robinson has agreed to be our guest speaker. He was at a meeting attended by Jim McHarg, the Grand Master of Ayrshire and readily agreed to come over for our Cumnock demonstration.”

The biggest day in the Orange calendar in Scotland and is set to bring more than 257 lodges and almost 15,000 marchers onto the streets of Glasgow and Cumnock.

In Cumnock, the chosen venue for the annual "Boyne Celebrations" of Orangemen from Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, 75 lodges will march to Broomfield Playing Fields at 11.30am, accompanied by 32 bands.

Since most of the marchers are due to arrive by coach, this was a huge logistical challenge for police and organisers, who will use part of Caponacre Industrial Estate to park the scores of buses until needed again to take the marchers home.

The 182 Glasgow lodges have no such transport problems, parading from their various halls to the marshalling area around George Square.

The city's leading Orangemen will leave from Cathedral Square at 9.15am, pausing at the Cenotaph to lay a wreath before joining the main event.

The entire procession will set off at 10.30am prompt, heading for Kelvingrove Park.
The city lodges will be accompanied by 92 bands.

Organisers have thrown their support behind police plans to deal with any drunken and disorderly behaviour at Saturday's marches. New legislation allows police to issue spot fines of £40 for anti-social behaviour or drinking alcohol in public.

Ian Wilson, Grand Master of the Scottish Orange Order, said: "For too long our celebrations have been blighted by the infamous Scottish binge-drinking culture.
"The behaviour of a minority can spoil the entire day for our own members and the viewing public.
"I would appeal to everyone to enjoy the excitement and colour of the marches and leave the booze at home."

Republic of Ireland

FIVE thousand Orangemen and women are expected to take part in Saturday's pre-Twelfth parade in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal.
Fifty lodges from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, as well as visiting Orangemen and women from across Northern Ireland, will join in the traditional celebrations at the picturesque coastal resort.

They will assemble close to St John’s Parish Church for the 1.15pm parade which will proceed to a demonstration field on the edge of the shoreline.

Orange Order dignitaries from around the world, who are in Northern Ireland for the forthcoming World Orange Triennial Council, will lead the parade.

A religious service will begin at 3pm and guest speaker will be the Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Robert Saulters.

The Donegal Twelfth has been held in Rossnowlagh since 1978 and it is traditional to hold the parade on the Saturday before the main Twelfth parades. This means lodges in the Republic can attend the Twelfth demonstrations in Northern Ireland.

There are 44 Orange halls in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim and the Orange Order has members in nine counties in the Republic.

 

Belfast Orangefest 'designed to educate and entertain'

ORANGEFEST 2009 came to life yesterday with a Shankill Road launch that involved a colourful display of banners and a smiling Culture Minister.

Months of hard work by the organisers have prepared the way for a Twelfth which promises to be family-friendly and full of music, poetry, Ulster-Scots culture and, of course, parading.

Shankill-born Nelson McCausland, who took up his Northern Ireland Assembly Executive appointment last week, was very much at home at the Spectrum Centre on Tennant Street and said he believed the annual Twelfth celebrations "promote Belfast in a positive way".

The main hall of the centre was transformed into a display of Orange culture, from a reproduction of Nassau Street - a lost Shankill street named after William of Orange's family - to banners representing a number of lodges.

The event launched a programme of dance, music and drama which will run from July 8 to July 11 and is designed to entertain and educate local people and tourists, as well as promoting a greater understanding of the Orange tradition.

Mr McCausland said Orangefest was "an excellent way of promoting Belfast".
"This is part of the rich cultural diversity in Northern Ireland and is a special event to this place and deserving of the respect," he said.

Chairwoman of Arts Council Northern Ireland Roisin McDonagh, was also present. She said she believed the arts can "break down barriers".
"Through culture we can realise we share far more in common with each other than we would initially think," she said.
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said she believed the Loyal Orders could "play a massive role" in bringing more tourism into Northern Ireland.
"Our community has a rich and glorious heritage of which we can be deeply proud," she said.
"Orangefest can play an important and valuable role in bringing the culture of our community to a wider local and international audience.
"A successful festival experience is vital to tourism here and the Grand Lodge has worked closely with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland to maximise the tourism potential of the Twelfth.
"When the festival begins it will pater to many tastes, celebrating many of the things that set us apart from other destinations around the world, showcasing our music, dance and drama which will entertain and educate those who are close to home as well as tourists who have travelled from further afield.
"There is much to look forward to over the coming weeks and I would like to commend everyone involved for all their hard work and dedication to make Orangefest happen."

City festivities bigger and brighter than ever

THIS year's Twelfth celebrations in Belfast are promising to be the biggest and brightest yet.

The traditional demonstration will be complemented by lamp posts decorated with banners and world-class street performers from around the globe to ensure the day will be one to remember.

Some of the star performers will include the Von Trolley Quartet from Australia, Mario, Queen of the Circus from the United States and The Strangelings will present The Gaiety Engine.

Street performance shows are scheduled on the hour from 12.30pm to 4.30pm in Cornmarket, in front of Castlecourt Shopping Centre, Royal Avenue, Rosemary Street and Fountain Street, while a U105 roadshow will operate outside Castlecourt Shopping Centre between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Starting at 10am, the main Orange procession will pass through Royal Avenue, Donegall Place, Donegall Square West and Bedford Street on its way to the field at Barnett's Park for noon.

The parade will return through the city centre at approximately 5pm.

Chair of Belfast Orangefest Tom Haire said it was pleased the city centre would be opening for business this year.
"We are looking forward to a wonderful celebration as we welcome visitors from around the world to our annual Twelfth festivities and celebrations," he said.

Andrew Irvine, Belfast City Centre manager, said around 80 per cent of shops would be open.
"We have been pleased to facilitate a true partnership between Orangefest and Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce," he said.
"The result of this good work
will be a day of pageantry, entertainment and performance - an ideal environment for the city's retailers to open their business and enjoy high levels of footfall.
"I do believe that over the period of the day there is something for everyone and all the ingredients for a great family day out."

Translink are providing Metro and train services on Monday July 13 at least half-hourly on all corridor services and hourly on some non-core routes which don't have a Sunday service.

Order works hand in hand with Police in alcohol crackdown

POLICE will crack down hard on street drinking over the Twelfth and through the summer to prevent alcohol fuelled trouble during parades, it was warned yesterday.
The PSNI said it would be working with the Orange Order, Apprentice Boys and Royal Black Institution and taking a robust approach to underage and street drinking.

Superintendent Peter Loughins said: “Officers will not hesitate to enforce legislation and by-laws, and where possible will confiscate alcohol and report people to local councils, the PPS or Youth Diversion Officers.”

Orange Order Grand Secretary Drew Nelson, joining him at a press conference in Belfast, said abuse of alcohol was an increasing problem for society.

“The Orange Institution does not wish to see alcohol abused in any way at any of our events or parades over the summer months.”

Police warned that it was not only illegal to drink alcohol in any designated street or public place, but was illegal to drink alcohol on the route of a public procession for up to six hours prior to the parade taking place.

 

Coleraine Twelfth Festival

COLERAINE Twelfth Festival has always been one of the highlights of the year for people living in the town, but the 2009 event will take on particular significance.

For this year's Festival will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Lost County of Coleraine, when geographical changes saw it merge into the county of Londonderry as a result of the 1611 Plantation of Ulster.

But the event is not solely a reflection of the past; there is an obvious drive to take it into the future by making it more inclusive and educational, and not just for the enjoyment of the Protestant side of the community.
"It's all about educating people about their history and making them understand that it is not just about bands," said Coleraine District Master Richard Hodges, who has been involved in the organisation of this year's Festival, which will run from July 4 to July 11.

A full line-up of entertainment is in store, from Highland games, fireworks and a kids' Fun Day in Christie Park, to an Ulster Scots Concert in the neighbouring Portstewart Town Hall.

One of the more educational events that's been arranged is a Plantation Walk, where local man Robert Anderson will take those with a passion for the past back in time with a tour of parts of the town which are steeped in history.

Richard Hodges said that local people always enjoyed the Festival, and this year they were looking forward to it more than ever.

Coleraine historian Dr Bob Curran will be hosting a workshop on local place names, and local history teacher George Dallas will be hosting one about the Plantation.

Scottish, Irish and Linedancers will add a musical touch to the occasion, and those wanting to pick up cooking tips will be able to do just that with an Ulster Scots cookery class in the Diamond.

Speaking about the significance of this year's anniversary Richard said: "Coleraine became part of Co Londonderry as part of the Ulster Plantation.
"As part of his Plantation Walk, Robert will highlight certain areas in the town of historical interest - for example Bellhouse Lane, where the bell would have sounded calling people to church at night.
"There is also Abbey Street, where there was a monastery, Kingsgate Street which is where the entrance to the town was (when it was surrounded by mud walls), Queen's Street, and St Patrick's Church."

Indeed, raising the positive profile of Coleraine as a town is very much in the minds of the Festival organisers.
"This is about giving people a better understanding," said Richard.
"A lot of people go to different parades and different commemoration and don't understand what they are for.
"This is about making people aware of their history and culture in an inoffensive way -there is nothing here that is meant to be offensive."
He added: "There is more to this culture than just rowdiness and bands."

Richard said that the Festival organisers were hopeful that a crowd from all sections within the community would come and enjoy it.
For a full programme of the Festival, visit www.colerainetwelfthfestival.co.uk

World Orange Council

THE truly international character of the Orange Order will be centre stage this Twelfth, as Belfast looks forward to hosting one of the most significant events in its calendar.

The World Orange Council meets every three years, and next month it is the turn of Northern Ireland to welcome Orange representatives from countries as far flung as New Zealand and Africa.

Around 100 delegates are visiting the Province this year for a three-day conference, and as well as paying a visit to various Twelfth parades and the famous Sham Fight at Scarva, they'll also be taking a trip to the Boyne Battlefield site in Drogheda, and Brownlow House in Lurgan - the world's largest Orange Hall.

This year, brethren from Ghana will be visiting the Twelfth parade in Belfast, and other host towns due to be paid a visit by Council members are Annalong, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Bangor, Coagh, Glenarm, Dromore, Co Tyrone, Lame, Lisburn and Lisbellaw.

The World Orange Council is made up of representatives from nine countries - Ireland, England, Scotland, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Togo and Ghana.

Explaining what this year's Council would entail - the last one was held in Toronto - the Grand Orange Lodge's Director of Services David Hume said that the delegates would be arriving at different times, but all would be present for the main event on Monday July 13.

On Wednesday July 15 - after the final sounds of the drums and pipes have faded -delegates will meet in a Belfast location for their three-day conference, where a host of themes will be explored and discussions enjoyed.

"Delegates will talk about themes that affect the Institution globally, and issues like modernisation, urbanisation, globalisation, and how the Order deals with different issues in different parts of the world," said David.
"Some of the representatives will be looking at the challenges of the modern world for the Institution, the global image of the Institution from a PR point of view, and the Christian message worldwide."

He said the conference would also include speakers from a university in England where researchers have carried out a survey on various Orange Lodges.
"We will be drawing parallels between our Lodge and others internationally."

The first two days of the conference would be spent focusing on workshops and discussion, and on the Friday, as is traditional at every meeting, the posts of President, Senior Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer will all be elected.

The Imperial Grand Master is also chosen to act as an Ambassador for Orangeism throughout the World.

The current Imperial President is Ulster's own Robert Saulters, who is also Grand Master of the Orange Order, and as David says, this year's event is special in that it's his final year in the post, just when the Council is being held in Northern Ireland.

He said their presence made it an important year for the Order.
"The meetings will be held during the Twelfth week when many important issues relating to our Orange Institution will be discussed," he said.
"This is the 43rd meeting of the Imperial Council, the first having taken place in London in 1867. We look forward to welcoming the delegates, visitors and friends back to our jurisdiction.
"An extensive programme of events has been arranged and I would hope that our visitors will go home and spread the good news of Ulster hospitality from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland."

David Hume also said the Order was very much looking forward to the three-day event.
"It's tremendously significant, and we hope to highlight that we are an international fraternity," he said.
"Sometimes people can lose sight of that, especially if you are in a small country Lodge - you can at times think that's all there is.
"It's important for the public to get a sense of that as well. And of course the fact that we will have visitors from Ghana etc. will add a lot of colour to the Twelfth."

It was not until 1867 that Orangemen from across the world met to discuss how best to further the "cause of Truth, and the extension of the Orange Society".

A year earlier, a preliminary conference had been held in Belfast to discuss the proposal of William Shannon, who was the Grand Secretary of Central Canada.

The suggestion had already won favour with many senior Orangemen, including William Johnston of Ballykilbeg and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland gave its approval in a motion proposed by Johnston in December 1865.

The first meeting of the Imperial Orange Council of the World took place in Radley's Hotel in London on July 17,1867, with the Earl of Enniskillen appointed as the first President.

The Imperial Orange Council is not a governing body, as it does not make laws or rules for Orange Grand Lodges, but it does bring together the various jurisdictions in a spirit of fraternity and fellowship in witness to the founding principles of 1867.

It's aim was to "to take into consideration the state of Orangism and Protestantism generally with the view of devising means for its extension and guard faithfully the civil and religious liberties of citizens everywhere."

It also aims to unite the Loyal Orange Institution throughout the World, and promote a universal method of procedure.

When the Council was first formed, four Orange jurisdictions were represented -Ireland, Scotland , England, and Canada.

The first occasion in which the newly formed organisation showed its influence was when the 1850 Act was passed after a riot at Dolly's Brae, banning party processions of all kinds in Ireland, and subsequently leading to many Orangemen being imprisoned for walking on the Twelfth.

The Council - led by secretary William Johnson of Ballykilbeg - passed a resolution stating: "That we cannot but view the Anti-procession Act, administered by successive governments, in a one-sided manner it has been, as a failure and bearing strongly against the Loyalty of the country and by creating an artificial crime or misdemeanour, serves to weaken the efficiency of the common law, which should prevail in Ireland, equally with England and Scotland". "

The resolution was forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Earl of Derby, and more pressure was exerted by Orange sympathisers, leading to the eventual repeal of the Act.

In terms of past locations for the Council meetings, the only occasion when delegates met in the Southern Hemisphere was in 1994 in Auckland, New Zealand.

London, Brixham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Londonderry, Carrickfergus, East Kilbride and Stirling are amongst the venues in the UK where the meeting has taken place.