Rachel Evans
The Orangemen are a 'fraternal' organization named for William of Orange, the Protestant Dutchman who seized the throne from Catholic King James II during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Orangemen's marches are considered controversial and face opposition from Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists who view them as triumphalist and sectarian. The organization officially forbids members from attending Catholic funerals and participating in any form of Catholic worship. While the Orangemen are accompanied by marching bands, these bands are often separate entities that are simply hired for the day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Association with Catholicism | The Orange Order is a Protestant fraternal organisation, named for William of Orange, who defeated Catholic King James II. |
| Opposition | The Orange walks face opposition from Catholics, nationalists, and the general public. |
| Marches in Catholic Areas | In a 2011 survey, 58% of Orangemen said they should be allowed to march through nationalist and Catholic areas without restrictions. |
| Anti-Catholic Songs | There are anti-Catholic songs in the canon, such as "The Famine Song," which depicts Catholics negatively. |
| Violence | There have been incidents of violence associated with the Orange walks in Catholic communities. |
| Banned from Catholic Funerals | The Orange Order officially forbids members from attending Catholic funerals or partaking in any Catholic worship. |
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What You'll Learn
The Orange Order's anti-Catholic songs
The Orange Order is a Protestant defence association made up of lodges. The principal pledge of these lodges was to defend "the King and his heirs so long as he or they support the Protestant Ascendancy". The organisation was founded in the house of James Sloan, one of the Order's three main founders, who include Daniel Winter and James Wilson (founder of the Orange Boys).
The Orange Order is considered controversial and faces opposition from Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists who see the parades as sectarian and triumphalist. The "marching season" generally refers to the months of April to August in Northern Ireland and includes marches by groups such as the Orange Order, which is arguably the most active marching group.
The Orange Order has been accused of being anti-Catholic, with songs such as "The Famine Song" deemed offensive and racist. The song's lyrics include "The famine's over, why don't you go home?" and it depicts Catholics as rapists, paedophiles, and Nazi sympathisers. In 2017, video footage showed people singing this banned song outside a Catholic church. However, the Orange Order denied that the song was racist, arguing that it is a tune that can be played on the flute and that any offensive lyrics were added by the crowd.
Another incident involving anti-Catholic sentiment was the singing of a song mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey, which caused widespread revulsion and led to the resignation of three members of the loyal order. When questioned, a leading member of the Orange Order denied that their organisation was anti-Catholic, stating that their ethos is Christian.
The Order has also been criticised for allowing known militants such as unionist politician and UVF member George Seawright to take part in marches. In addition, Orangemen formed a paramilitary group called the Orange Volunteers, which was involved in illegal activities, including bombing a pub in Belfast.
In recent decades, it has become more common for members of ladies' lodges to participate in marches, although men still greatly outnumber them. Participants in the marches typically wear dark suits and bowler hats, and walk with umbrellas. They also wear orange collarettes, badges, and sometimes elaborate cuffs and white gloves.
Overall, while the Orange Order denies being anti-Catholic, their marches and songs have caused offence and controversy, particularly among Catholic communities.
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The Order's opposition to Catholic funerals
The Orangemen marching band is part of the Orange Order, a Protestant defence association made up of lodges. The Orange Order was founded in 1795 by James Sloan, Daniel Winter, and James Wilson (founder of the Orange Boys). The first Orange lodge was established in Dyan, with James Sloan of Loughgall as its first grandmaster. The principal pledge of the Orange Order lodges was to defend "the King and his heirs so long as he or they support the Protestant Ascendancy".
The Orange Order is known for its controversial "Orange walks", which are parades that include at least one lodge, accompanied by a marching band, often a flute band, and sometimes fife and drum, silver, brass, and accordion bands. These walks are considered offensive and triumphalist by Catholics and nationalists, particularly when they pass through or near Catholic-dominated areas. The walks have also been criticised by the general public due to the inconvenience and controversies associated with them.
While the Orangemen marching band is not directly associated with Catholicism, the band's participation in Orange walks has led to opposition and criticism from Catholics and Catholic communities. Historically, there have been instances of violent clashes between Orangemen and Catholics during these walks, with both sides throwing objects and abusing each other.
One example of the opposition faced by the Orangemen marching band and the Orange Order is the annual standoff at Drumcree, which resulted in widespread loyalist violence. The Order continues to campaign for the right to march on Garvaghy Road, a Catholic area. This dispute has led to a boycott of businesses owned by Orangemen and their supporters in the region.
Another instance of opposition is the incident in 1986 when Portadown Orangemen allowed known unionist militants, including UVF member George Seawright, to take part in a march through a Catholic district. When police seized Seawright and other militants, the Orangemen attacked the officers with stones and missiles.
In addition to these specific incidents, there is a general sentiment among Catholics that the Orange walks are sectarian and triumphalist. This sentiment is particularly strong in areas with a high population of Catholics, where the presence of Orangemen and their walks can lead to an increase in violent incidents.
While the Orangemen marching band may not have a direct association with Catholicism, the band's affiliation with the Orange Order and participation in Orange walks has led to significant opposition and criticism from Catholic communities, with a history of violent clashes and ongoing tensions between the two groups.
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Catholic opposition to Orange walks
Orange walks, or Orange marches, are a series of parades by members of the Orange Order and other Protestant fraternal societies. The parades typically build up to the 12th of July celebrations, commemorating Prince William of Orange's victory over King James II and VII at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Orange Order was founded by Ulster Protestants in County Armagh in 1795 during a period of Protestant-Catholic sectarian conflict. The Order's principal pledge was to defend "the King and his heirs so long as he or they support the Protestant Ascendancy".
The Orange walks have faced opposition from Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists who view the parades as sectarian and triumphalist. The walks are particularly controversial when they pass through or near Catholic-dominated areas, and they have often led to violence. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, marchers were verbally abused, had objects thrown at them, and were involved in abusing onlookers. This pattern has repeated itself over the years, with violent incidents increasing as Orange Walks parade through highly populated Catholic communities. In 1822, seven lodges marched to Fraser's Hall in King Street, Glasgow, and were besieged by a group of 'zealous Irish Catholics [sic], most ready to give battle'. More recently, in 2003, a survey found that 53% of Scottish people were in favour of banning Orange Walks.
The Orange Order and its supporters argue that the parades are not sectarian and that any violence is perpetrated by outsiders over whom they have no control. They claim that the parades are necessary to protect Protestant civil and religious liberties and that they have a "'right to march' without interference". However, critics point to the presence of offensive songs and banners at the walks, such as "The Famine Song," which depicts Catholics in a negative light, and banners bearing anti-Catholic slogans.
In recent years, the Orange Order has attempted to address the controversial nature of the walks by instituting contracts requiring bands to behave appropriately. However, these contracts have been largely ineffective due to the Order's reluctance to enforce them. While the Order claims to oppose violence and paramilitarism, critics argue that their marches incite hatred and violence, and their attempts to distance themselves from overtly sectarian songs have been unsuccessful.
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The Order's association with Protestant defence
The Orange Order, named for William of Orange, is a Protestant defence association made up of lodges. The principal pledge of these lodges was to defend "the King and his heirs so long as he or they support the Protestant Ascendancy". The organisation is named for William of Orange, the Dutch Protestant prince who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland after defeating the Catholic King James II during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Orange Order was founded to defend the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland, which was established by William of Orange's victory over King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The Orange Order is central to the Twelfth of July and Northern Ireland's "marching season," and it is the most well-known and largest of the Protestant fraternal organisations known as loyal orders. The Order still sees itself as a unifying force among Protestants, and its lodges and marches bring together individuals from various social and political backgrounds. The lodges hold marches and parades that are seen as provocative displays of triumphalism by the predominantly Catholic nationalist community in Northern Ireland.
The Orange Order's marches have sparked controversy and opposition from Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists, who view them as sectarian and triumphalist. The marches have also been criticised by other religious communities, left-wing groups, and trade unions. The Order has faced opposition throughout its history, with critics seeing the marches as a means of publicly "rubbing in" a historical wrong. Conflict often arises when marches pass through or near Catholic-dominated areas, and during the Troubles, marchers were subjected to abuse and objects being thrown at them.
The Order officially forbids members from participating in Catholic worship, including attending Catholic funerals. This rule, however, is not widely followed or enforced by the modern leadership. The Orange Order is linked to Northern Ireland, with the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland overseeing individual lodges worldwide, including lodges in Canada, Australia, and Ghana. The organisation's best-known practice is parading, and it takes part in thousands of marches annually across Northern Ireland.
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Catholic violence during Orange walks
Orange walks, or Orange marches, are a series of parades by members of the Orange Order and other Protestant fraternal societies. They are held during the summer months, particularly between April and August, in various Commonwealth nations, most notably Northern Ireland. These walks are considered controversial and have faced opposition from Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists, who view them as sectarian and triumphalist.
The Orange Order, founded in 1795 during a period of Protestant-Catholic sectarian conflict, is a conservative, British unionist, and loyalist organization that has historically opposed Irish nationalism and republicanism. The Order's yearly marches, with the largest held on or around July 12th, are a celebration of the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II in the 17th century.
In addition, Catholic civilians have verbally abused marchers, thrown objects at them, and engaged in physical confrontations. The presence of known militants within the Orangemen's ranks, such as UVF member George Seawright, has further inflamed tensions and led to violent incidents.
Some have argued that the Orange walks themselves incite hatred and violence, with the introduction of overtly anti-Catholic songs into the canon, such as "The Famine Song," which depicts Catholics in a negative light. The walks have also been criticized as disruptive to the local community and have faced attempts to restrict their frequency.
While the Orange Order has stated that it stands against violence and paramilitarism, the presence of paramilitary groups within the marches and the Order's historical foundation during a period of sectarian conflict have contributed to the perception of Catholic violence during Orange walks.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Orangemen are not a Catholic marching band. The Orangemen, or members of the Orange Order, are a Protestant fraternal organisation. They are named after William of Orange, the Protestant Dutchman who seized the throne from Catholic King James II during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The Orange Order is central to Northern Ireland's 'marching season', which takes place from April to August, with the high point on the 12th of July.
The Orange Order is a 'fraternal' organisation and the largest of the Protestant loyal orders. It was founded in 1795 and has 35,000 to 40,000 members worldwide, including lodges in Canada, Australia, Ghana, and Northern Ireland. The organisation is named after William of Orange, who is revered as a defender of the Protestant faith. The Orange Order holds marches and parades to commemorate historical events, such as the Battle of the Boyne, and to celebrate William of Orange's victory over King James II.
The Orangemen and their marches are often viewed negatively by the Catholic community. Catholics, Irish nationalists, and Scottish nationalists see these parades as sectarian and triumphalist, a public display of historical wrongs. The marches passing through or near Catholic-dominated areas have often led to conflict and violence. The Orangemen have also been accused of introducing anti-Catholic songs into their marches and mocking victims of Catholic massacres.
