THOUSANDS descended on the village of Maguiresbridge yesterday (Tuesday) for Fermanagh’s annual Twelfth of July celebrations.  

A total of 15 Fermanagh Districts from Ballinamallard to Brookeborough were accompanied by a wide variety of impressive local marching bands. As is tradition, visiting lodges from the South – representing Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan – joined 90 private lodges, members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen and around 70 bands in one of the larger demonstrations across the North. It was also a special days for members of the newest Junior Lodges, recently formed in Ballinamallard and a new Girls Junior Lodge in Maguiresbridge who were marching for the first time at the county event. 

Lodges and bands marched from Killyshambley on the Tempo Road before proceeding through the village to the demonstration field on the Lisnaskea Road. The platform proceedings and religious service were chaired by Fermanagh County Grand Master Stuart Brooker with Abraham Storey, County Cavan Grand Chaplain as this year’s guest speaker.

 

A key feature of this year’s demonstration was commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and honouring veterans of all religions who took part with First World War soldiers dressed in period costume leading the parade.  

In his address to the large crowds, Mr Brooker acknowledged the role of Catholics and Protestants who fought side-by-side during the 141 day conflict. 

“The Battle of the Somme is a very significant event in the history of the Orange Institution and took the lives of soldiers from almost every city, town, village, and rural area across the country.

Right across the British Isles, the Commonwealth, and throughout the Orange Fraternity worldwide, a common bond of selflessness prevailed. These were men, united not only by their Christian Faith, but also their collective willpower to defeat the enemy on the battlefields.

“This has been described as Orangeism’s greatest triumph and its heaviest defeat. Triumph in the number of volunteers who joined the war effort, but defeat in that the Institution lost so many of its young men. We sometimes tend to forget, that Orangemen fought alongside their fellow soldiers from the Roman Catholic and Nationalist traditions, whose valour was equal to that of their Protestant peers. It is right that we acknowledge and remember that joint and unified heroism in our commemorations. Let us not forget their heroism, their loyalty to King and Country, loyalty to their comrades, but also, the pain on the homefront.”

County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge has a reputation for hosting various groups at the Twelfth and this year was no different. Five cross-party MPs and two support staff from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster were attendance.