The real issue with the Twelfth

I just stumbled on an article I wrote last year for the Belfast Telegraph. It reminds me of the real issue with Orange Parades, the continued marching through residential areas. 

This is, in my mind, the single biggest barrier to the transformation of the Twelfth.  

As long as the Loyal Orders insist on walking along streets full of homes, they will create the perception of coat trailing. No matter what way you dress it up, if you are not an Orange supporter and 10,000 men with bands come marching up your street flying union flags, as happens on mine, it feels like an invasion. When they leave their litter behind and use your walls and latrines, it feels like a violation. I would not presume to speak for my neighbours but I suspect they feel the same way.

This does not happen when parades pass through city centres, which by definition are neutral places. That is why I believe Orange Parades should respect residential areas and focus on creating welcoming celebrations of their culture and faith in neutral spaces and not on residential streets.

The real proof of change in the Orange Order will be an acknowledgement that this is so.

Published on July 11th 2008, Belfast Telegraph

June and July used to be dominated by parading, civil unrest and ‘street politics’ which forced many to flee on early holidays, damaged business and did Northern Ireland’s reputation abroad no good what so ever.

This year the first parading story came with a relatively minor spat between the Orange Order and Larne Council over bunting, yes bunting!

Over the past year the Orange Order have began a gradual process creating a more positive public perception of the organisation. There was real progress in the early part of the year as the Order worked closely withthe Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland to develop the Twelfth as a tourist proposition and more recently with the launch of the all Ireland Williamite Trail. Both welcome initiatives which over time could help shift perceptions.

The jury may be out in many minds about Diamond Dan, but I am not going to belittle a serious attempt to engage young people in the positive aspects of orangeism.

Yes, progress at a strategic level but communications need to relate to experience before perceptions are changed. In other words you need to walk the walk as well as talking the talk.

Back to the Twelfth. 

There is undoubtedly still a perception gap between what the Order says and what people see on the ground. Take my own experience for example. I live off a major arterial route in South Belfast. I am not going to take the position that Orange feet have no right to be on that road but I do believe that with rights come responsibilities. Ours is a little cul-de-sac which means we are ‘locked in’ during the parade.

Last year we were at home for the day. The morning procession passed off without too much ado but on the return walk back into the city things were pretty bad. I counted 56 people (many in sashes) using our little street as a toilet. All in all the parade took two hours to pass. After about an hour I gave up on the toilet count and retreated to the back garden but had to confront reality when a group of young girls from a band came knocking on the door begging to use the loo. I would love to have spoken to the adult responsible for these young ladies. They are entitled to access to basic facilities from the parade organisers.

If the Orange Order is serious about shifting public perceptions then surely the time has arrived when it should provide portaloos, litter points and properly marshal its flagship parade. Most of my neighbours have the economic means to leave on the Twelfth. This is a major reason why this part of Belfast has to date been happy to live and let live. That is no excuse for bringing tens of thousands on to the streets and making inadequate arrangements for them.

Next year I might put the Twelfth to the experience test but on Saturday I will be heading off as I suspect will the vast majority of my neighbours and by the time we return the council will have tidied everything up again – at our expense.