Orange Parades: History Repeating Itself?

The scenes in Belfast over the Twelfth have been shocking. Members of the Orange Order, bands, and hangers-on attacking the PSNI with a variety of weapons and ammunition, due to the blocking of a parade. After the positive coverage of Northern Ireland during the G8 (only a month ago), the normal headlines have returned, with footage beamed across the world of people waving union flags attacking Her Majesty's police service.

Orange leaders have been describing the blocking of parades as the latest installment in a 'culture war', citing the removal of the union flag from Belfast City Hall as another field of engagement. In actual fact, though, problems with parades are not a new thing. Even further back than the Lower Ormeau or the Garvaghy Road / Drumcree disputes, the student of Irish history discovers that things were even worse about 160 years ago. So bad, in fact, that party processions, both unionist and nationalist, were banned for over seventeen years. The incident that brought the ban? The battle of Dolly's Brae.

© Copyright Kevin O'Kane and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
It was the Twelfth of July 1849. The Orangemen of Rathfriland had marched to Lord Roden's Park - what is now Tollymore Forest Park, at Bryansford. Appeals had been made for the Orangemen to return by the new road, that is, the one known as the Horse Shoe Bend on the A50. The Orangemen, though, had gone that way the year before and 'been humiliated over the next year by songs mocking their cowardice.' [1)

Waiting for them at Dolly's Brae were 'masses of armed Ribbonmen... crowded to prevent them.' [2] Between the Ribbonmen and the Orangemen were troops and police, to keep the peace and ensure the march passed through. Everything almost worked out. 'When they were twenty yards of so beyond the danger zone, someone threw a squib and all hell broke loose.' [3] Firing began on both sides, the police moved to scatter the Ribbonmen from the hill, and in the turmoil, many were killed. 'At least thirty Ribbonmen were killed and Orange stragglers burned some Catholic houses and attacked one of the owners.' [4]

The following year, 'Sir William Meredith, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, brought in a bill outlawing Party Processions.' [5] Parades were completely banned, with the order going 'into decline.' [6] Ten years later, 'following a serious riot at Derrymacash, near Lurgan, County Armagh, a Party Emblems Act was passed. The displaying of party flags, banners or emblems from buildings (or other public places) was prohibited; so, too, was the ceremonial discharge of cannon or firearms. Even the playing of traditional party tunes in public was outlawed. Orange leaders denounced both Acts as tyrannical, unconstitutional and an infringement of British liberties, yet they insisted that all brethren should obey them.' [7]

It seems like an early prototype of the current Parades Commission, and even more of a war on Orange culture than we are currently experiencing. The danger, though, in such times of 'persecution' is that a new hero will emerge, who will stand up and be counted. With the union flag dispute, it appeared to be Jamie Bryson and Willie Frazer. With the parades dispute now, who can tell? In the 1860s, the Orange hero was William Johnston of Ballykilbeg in County Down.

'As the events of 12 July 1867 illustrate, the Orange Order remained capable of putting large crowds on the streets, when its cause demanded it. That day, William Johnston of Ballykilbeg, who was opposed to legal curbs on Orange marches, led 100 Orange lodges, with 40,000 people as participants or spectators, in procession from Newtownards to Bangor.' [8] Johnston and a few others were prosecuted, but 'so intent was Johnston on making his mark that he refused to pay the bail money that would have secured his release. When he emerged from Downpatrick jail a month later, thousands of supporters had gathered at the gates, singing Orange songs as loyalist bands played their party tunes.' [9] Such was the groundswell of support for Johnston that he was soon after elected to Westminster and successfully brought about the repeal of the Party Processions Act in 1872.

Reading the accounts of the events of the 1860s, there are some striking resonances with today. An embattled and embittered Orange order under siege. Violence surrounding some parades, even while the vast majority pass off peacefully. Government legislation seeking to pursue peace but making the situation potentially worse. Heroes and martyrs waiting in the wings to rise to prominence. An uneasy political situation.

Rathfriland District still remember Dolly's Brae - the name of that road emblazoned on their District Bannerette like a military battle honour. The rest of us need to remember it as well, and all that followed, to seek a peaceful resolution before it's too late and history repeats itself.

Notes:
[1) Ruth Dudley-Edwards, The Faithful Tribe, p. 250.
[2] Mervyn Jess, The Orange Order, p. 34.
[3] Kevin Haddick-Flynn, Orangeism: The Making of a Tradition, p. 277.
[4] Dudley Edwards, p. 251.
[5] Haddick-Flynn, p. 279.
[6] Haddick-Flynn, p. 280.
[7] Haddick-Flynn, p. 281.
[8] Chris Ryder & Vincent Kearney, Drumcree, p. 12.
[9] Jess, p. 36.

Not Forgotten

When you're young, you think you're indestructible. Nothing can happen, and death is many decades away. Life is for living, and there's plenty of it going spare. You can never imagine one of your friends dying 'too soon'.

That's why the death of a young person is so unexpected, so shocking. For everyone in the community, yes, but particularly for the family and friends of the deceased. And while the wider community can forget so quickly, with the litany of people dying, and other news stories coming and going, those who were close to the person can never forget.

Time seems to move so quickly, and yet it can also stand still, with memories returning of former days. Happy memories, things to smile about, yet with tears never far away.

It's hard to believe, but it's one year today since PSNI Constable James Magee died, alongside Constables Kenneth Irvine, Declan Greene, and Kevin Gorman, in a terrible accident in their police 4x4 vehicle on their way to help colleagues in Rostrevor.

As I wrote last year, James was my best friend at Primary School. We were always playing together, and I spent many happy times up at Bishopsmount, the former family home in Dromore. It was always fun taking my bike up there, as there was a path right around the bungalow for us to do cycle races. There were the goats and other animals to look at but not get too close to. There were the vintage cars in the garage to get excited about. He had the most amazing and massive model railway set which was always out in one of the garages. There were the ham and cheese sandwiches and the weak diluting orange juice. There was the times we played football and got stuck in the whirly-line, then James' mum would come out and scrub down the concrete saying that she had to get the pitch all clean for the footballers. There was the big stove in the kitchen to get warmed at when we had got cold outside. There was the stony lane between the house and Church Street under the old railway tunnel which echoed as you shouted out. There were the silly jokes that made us laugh all day. There was the time when David Riddell put his hand on the electric fence having been told it was turned on.

Despite going to different secondary schools, we stayed in touch, still going to Sunday School together, and then being Confirmed on April 9th 1995.



It's hard to believe that James has been dead for a year now, and yet one thing is certain - he has not been forgotten.

First Fireworks

It's Harvest Thanksgiving weekend in St Elizabeth's, with a special Harvest Gift Day for Building for the Gospel on Sunday. The weekend began tonight with a Harvest Supper in the Burton Hall. Over 100 people packed in enjoying good fellowship over great food and scrumptious desserts! One of my Curate predecessors, Jim McMaster, recently retired Rector of St Nicholas' Carrickfergus, gave an epilogue. Between the courses there was also musical entertainment on the piano and violin.

Right at the end of Grieg's Nocturne, we heard the first firework (banger) of the year, just outside the hall. The timing was impeccable. A humorous moment, but also an ominous sign of the loud bangs and explosions between now and Halloween. Johnny (Youth Leader) and myself went outside to see what was happening, and to their credit, the local police patrol was just turning in the church carpark having chased them towards the Moat Park.

Will there be as many illegal fireworks in Belfast this October? Let's hope not, but I'm surprised that the first firework wasn't heard until the 2nd of October. Maybe we're in for a quieter autumn.

Anti-Social Networking

Recently, some bloggers have questioned the value and worth of social networking sites like Bebo and more especially Facebook. That is, Abraham Piper, Brian Heasley, Josh Harris, and Phil Whittall. While they can help us keep in touch with friends, they can also be addictive, distracting, and turn into a 'the person with the most friends wins' kind of school playground activity.

This morning on Radio Ulster, (no link available) there was a report claiming that gangs of youths in Dungannon, County Tyrone, were using Bebo and Facebook to organise sectarian confrontations in the town centre. It all started one weekend, when a gang of about 10 'jumped' two Protestant guys. The following weekend, two gangs began a fight, with around 20 young men in each gang. On the third weekend, it had been stepped up again, with tension being raised on Bebo and Facebook, with the sectarian gangs organising themselves on the social networking sites. Thankfully the PSNI intelligence was on the case, and sufficient numbers of police were in the town centre to prevent any further escalation of trouble.

Not so much social networking, as anti-social networking.

For now, Farewell

I'm not sure what to say, yet I have to say something before moving to other topics on the blog. Yesterday, I was privileged to be asked to take part in the funeral service for Constable James Magee. As I said before, James was my best friend in Primary School as we grew up.

I've taken other funerals, and thought that they were hard enough - even when I didn't really know the person. But yesterday was the hardest of my life and ministry. Dromore Cathedral was packed full, with many more outside. The last time I was in the Cathedral, was the night I was ordained, and here I was back for a terribly sad occasion. As well as the cathedral being full, there were crowds outside, as well as the obligatory media circus.

I never imagined that just a few months into my ordained ministry I would be helping at the very public funeral of a childhood friend. Yet it happened. Stephen Lowry led the service so well - his pastoral heart shone through as he found words to comfort, recalling James perfectly, and also in sensitively proclaiming God's word. Trevor McKeown and Gareth Harron read lessons, and all three were supportive as I prepared to lead the prayers.

I will never forget the funeral - images and sounds are lodged in my memory. The sound of the policemen marching, and carrying the coffin. The sound of the hymns being sung. The sound of weeping and wailing. The Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, laying a wreath on the grave. Another PSNI officer presenting James' cap and gloves to the parents.

Yet now, when the spotlight is off the family, now is when it will particularly hit hard for the family - please continue to be praying for Freda and Bawn, Sarah and Rachel, and the whole family.