Spare a thought and possibly a prayer, too, for the rapidly dwindling ranks of the Orange Order as they chalk up yet another commemoration of King Billy’s troops – including a substantial Roman Catholic contingent – winning the Battle of the Boyne for Protestantism in 1690.
At this rate of decline in membership, it may be only a matter of time before the traditional “Sham Fight” historical reconstruction at Scarva in County Down prompts the headline: “Shock win for James”.
The Orange Order blames its serious drop in numbers on an increasingly secular society. But could it be that young Protestants find flute bands more interesting these days?
As thousands of middle-aged and elderly Orange brethren tramp across the north of Ireland to various demonstrations in various fields, the chances are that the majority of young “Prods” present will be there to follow the pipe and silver bands.
In order to survive, the Orange Order will need to reinvent itself within the Unionist community. The family tradition of sons following fathers into the “Loyal Orders” no longer has the sort of attraction it did in the 1970s.
For more than two decades, I donned the sash my father wore at gatherings of the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution, the Protestant fraternal society. Installation and election of officers’ nights were great social occasions.
I rarely marched in the July 12 or “Black Saturday” parades, as I was usually reporting on both events. And I eventually quit both organisations, although not because I disagreed strongly with their stances. Rather, I had family commitments.
How many thousands of other Protestant men are in the same position? What would make us want to rejoin and “ride the goat” again? (Some societies have some very strange rituals). Making the annual parades more modern would not necessarily help much.
What might make a difference would be converting lodge nights into Protestant history and heritage evenings. The Orange Order and the Royal Black need to go into the Unionist communities and educate Protestants on their religion – tell them the reasons why they are Protestants. After the farce of the Drumcree dispute on the conflict over marching (or not) in Portadown, they certainly need to market themselves more positively to Protestant churches.
Christian fundamentalism is also turning its back on the Orange Order. Protestants who are “saved” or ‘”born again” are encourage to “come out from amongst them”. This is biblical speak for “Hang up your sashes or don’t join in the first place.”
There is a secular section of Protestantism whose members are not interested in religion. But there is also a rapidly expanding Christian youth movement in evangelical and fundamentalist Protestant churches which isn’t interested in marching.
Orangeism is suffering from the same potentially fatal malaise as Unionism. It has forgotten how to reach its core audience.
The Orange Order is so busy trying to re-brand parades as cross-community tourist attractions that many young Protestants no longer know – or care – what it stands for.
Unionist parties are so busy trying to appeal to Catholics and migrants that they have ignored the thousands of Protestants who can no longer be bothered to vote.
As for the peace process, perhaps it’s time to bypass the Stormont Executive and give full powers to the Assembly in order to avoid a future suspension. Why not let ordinary Assembly members bring their motions to the Stormont chamber; let debate commence, then take a vote and, if a motion is passed, it becomes law? What could be simpler? It’s called democracy.
If First Minister Peter Robinson is unable to get a grip, no one should discount the possibility of an impatient Westminster re-introducing something like direct rule under another name.
Robinson has swung his beleaguered party to the hard right in a desperate bid to avoid the sort of meltdown that befell David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party at the 2005 Westminster general election.
Sinn Fein would be wisenot to try to take advantage of Robinson’s woes and drag its heels in the power-sharing Executive, as it did previously when it held up proceedings for 150 days. Current Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Cameron, his likely Conservative successor, would give very short shrift to any Sinn Fein or DUP fooling about with the Executive and the governance of Northern Ireland. Who knows? Cameron might even make Lord Trimble his Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Stranger things have happened.
With the Ulster Unionists back in business following the establishment of their “special relationship” with the Tories, the DUP’s days as the most influential Unionist force in Northern Ireland’s politics may be numbered.
Some commentators think it could make sense for the Unionists to avoid political sunstroke by forming a pan-Unionist front comprising the UUP/Tory “new force” and Robinson’s DUP.
Then again, that would involve Unionists being united. Perhaps I have been in the sun for too long. l
Spare a thought and possibly a prayer, too, for the rapidly dwindling ranks of the Orange Order as they chalk up yet another commemoration of King Billy’s troops – including a substantial Roman Catholic contingent – winning the Battle of the Boyne for Protestantism in 1690.
At this rate of decline in membership, it may be only a matter of time before the traditional “Sham Fight” historical reconstruction at Scarva in County Down prompts the headline: “Shock win for James”.
The Orange Order blames its serious drop in numbers on an increasingly secular society. But could it be that young Protestants find flute bands more interesting these days?
As thousands of middle-aged and elderly Orange brethren tramp across the north of Ireland to various demonstrations in various fields, the chances are that the majority of young “Prods” present will be there to follow the pipe and silver bands.
In order to survive, the Orange Order will need to reinvent itself within the Unionist community. The family tradition of sons following fathers into the “Loyal Orders” no longer has the sort of attraction it did in the 1970s.
For more than two decades, I donned the sash my father wore at gatherings of the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution, the Protestant fraternal society. Installation and election of officers’ nights were great social occasions.
I rarely marched in the July 12 or “Black Saturday” parades, as I was usually reporting on both events. And I eventually quit both organisations, although not because I disagreed strongly with their stances. Rather, I had family commitments.
How many thousands of other Protestant men are in the same position? What would make us want to rejoin and “ride the goat” again? (Some societies have some very strange rituals). Making the annual parades more modern would not necessarily help much.
What might make a difference would be converting lodge nights into Protestant history and heritage evenings. The Orange Order and the Royal Black need to go into the Unionist communities and educate Protestants on their religion – tell them the reasons why they are Protestants. After the farce of the Drumcree dispute on the conflict over marching (or not) in Portadown, they certainly need to market themselves more positively to Protestant churches.
Christian fundamentalism is also turning its back on the Orange Order. Protestants who are “saved” or ‘”born again” are encourage to “come out from amongst them”. This is biblical speak for “Hang up your sashes or don’t join in the first place.”
There is a secular section of Protestantism whose members are not interested in religion. But there is also a rapidly expanding Christian youth movement in evangelical and fundamentalist Protestant churches which isn’t interested in marching.
Orangeism is suffering from the same potentially fatal malaise as Unionism. It has forgotten how to reach its core audience.
The Orange Order is so busy trying to re-brand parades as cross-community tourist attractions that many young Protestants no longer know – or care – what it stands for.
Unionist parties are so busy trying to appeal to Catholics and migrants that they have ignored the thousands of Protestants who can no longer be bothered to vote.
As for the peace process, perhaps it’s time to bypass the Stormont Executive and give full powers to the Assembly in order to avoid a future suspension. Why not let ordinary Assembly members bring their motions to the Stormont chamber; let debate commence, then take a vote and, if a motion is passed, it becomes law? What could be simpler? It’s called democracy.
If First Minister Peter Robinson is unable to get a grip, no one should discount the possibility of an impatient Westminster re-introducing something like direct rule under another name.
Robinson has swung his beleaguered party to the hard right in a desperate bid to avoid the sort of meltdown that befell David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party at the 2005 Westminster general election.
Sinn Fein would be wisenot to try to take advantage of Robinson’s woes and drag its heels in the power-sharing Executive, as it did previously when it held up proceedings for 150 days. Current Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and David Cameron, his likely Conservative successor, would give very short shrift to any Sinn Fein or DUP fooling about with the Executive and the governance of Northern Ireland. Who knows? Cameron might even make Lord Trimble his Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Stranger things have happened.
With the Ulster Unionists back in business following the establishment of their “special relationship” with the Tories, the DUP’s days as the most influential Unionist force in Northern Ireland’s politics may be numbered.
Some commentators think it could make sense for the Unionists to avoid political sunstroke by forming a pan-Unionist front comprising the UUP/Tory “new force” and Robinson’s DUP.
Then again, that would involve Unionists being united. Perhaps I have been in the sun for too long.
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