The sad reality of the Twelfth in Belfast

Every year our little street pays a high price for being on the Belfast 12th of July’s parade route.

We like many residents across the city of all political and religious outlooks and none are involuntarily hemmed in to our houses because of the Orange Orders continued insistence to march 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.

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.

a couple of years ago 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.

What the Twelfth means to me….

Over on Slugger there is an open invitation to share thoughts on the Twelfth and what it means to you.

I live in a part of Belfast through which the main parade passes twice, on the way out and then back again. Ours is a cul-de-sac off the main route which means we are hemmed in during the parade with  no access or egress. The area is mixed and no community can claim it as ‘theirs’. Our neighbours are friendly and kind.

The Twelfth normally means an enforced holiday for our family. We get out and stay away until the mess has been cleared up and the streets have been handed back to those for whom they are home. We have stayed and every time the experience has been difficult. The Orange Order does not provide porta-loos for walkers along the parade route and after spending the best part of the afternoon in the field many on the return leg desperate for a wee. Our cul-de-sac becomes irresistible to all too many of the marchers and every year a number of the walls becomes public latrines. Two years ago I counted 80 grown men and three women take advantage of our little street where children play for a spot of light relief.

That year a number of band’s knocked up every house on the street in search of a loo. This creates a difficult situation in a small community where people of several religions, nationalities and skin colours live.

So the Twelfth for me is difficult and not at all enjoyable. It’s a public holiday I can’t enjoy in my own garden and one which if I do stay at home will make me feel a lot less tolerant of marches and their aftermath. Being honest I don’t know why the parade needs to come through residential areas at all.