Within the broad Orange 'family' there is the greatest respect
and admiration for the brethren of the three Southern Ulster
counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal for the way they have
managed to keep the Orange flag flying during the past 81
years.
Detached from the United Kingdom in 1922 and with many Orangemen
and their families leaving the new Irish Free State to live
in Northern Ireland, mainland Britain and Canada, it would
have been easy for the remaining Orangemen who opted to stay
on in their home counties to throw in the towel as far as
the Order was concerned.
That certaily did not happen. Quite the contrary in fact,
and down the years those Orangemen of Cavan, Monaghan and
Donegal have maintained, with quiet dignity and resolution,
their stand as Protestants and Orangemen in a State where
Protestants are a very small minority.
The Orangemen who cross the border each July 12 and other
parading days to walk with their brethren in Fermanagh, Tyrone
and Armagh have earned the admiration of the onlookers, and
often there has been applause from the footpaths as the banners
are recognised.
For Orangemen from Northern Ireland who have travelled into
the heart of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal to attend church
parades and other functions, it has been an inspiring experience.
To attend largely attended church services in places like
Kilmore and Ashfield in Cavan, or Orange ceremonies in Monaghan
town, Billyhill and other places, has been very enjoyable,
and the fellowship afterwards at nearby church halls has been
exhillerating.
Those Orangemen and their families are held in high regard
by their neighbours, and the Gardai, who police their church
parades, dealing almost entirely with traffic matters, speak
very highly of the Orangemen and their deportment.
These days there is only one Orange demonstration, apart
from church services, in the border counties, and that is
the highly impressive Rossnowlagh demonstration, held on the
Saturday before the Twelfth and now attended by thousands.
No July 12 parades have bee held in Monaghan and Cavan since
the 1930s when republicans physically prevented them, and
since then the Orangemen have crossed the border to attend
the Northern Ireland demonstrations, mostly as guests of Co.
Fermanagh and Co. Armagh.
Photographs in the Orange Standard in the past two years
have featured impressive Orange ceremonies including banner
unfurlings in Raphoe in Donegal, as well as at a number of
centres in Monaghan and Cavan.
New members have been initiated into Lodges in all three
counties, and there is a great feeling of optimism in the
ranks of the Orangemen.
Perhaps, we in Northern Ireland have been too pre-occupied
in the past with the happenings in our part of the world,
but whatever the reason, we have often shamefully neglected
the Orange folk on the other side of the Irish border.
That situation has improved in recent years and there is
far more appreciation now for the stand of Orange people in
the Republic, and the respect they have earned from the huge
Roman Catholic majority.
It hasn't been easy down the years for the Orangemen of these
three Ulster counties, or for those in Leitrim and Dublin,
but they have stood their ground, have consolidated, and are
now fully accepted as good citizens as well as ardent Protestants
- Protestants who are loyal to their Church and organisations.
It's good that there is increasing inter-change between the
brethren and sisters in Northern Ireland and those in the
Republic, and it is a trend that should be encouraged. Numbers
are on the up and up in Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal, and there
is no feeling of despondency in those counties, rather a feeling
of quiet confidence befitting a people accepted in their country
as good citizens prepared to stand for their own tradition
and heritage.
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