|
Factfile on Lodge
Name: Falls L.O.L. No. 498
Founded: 1798 in Leitrim, 1829 in Belfast
W.M. of Lodge: Ken Moulds
Location: Derriaghy, County Antrim
The name Falls and the title Loyal Orange Lodge hardly seem
to go together!
But L.O.L. No. 498 was established at Divis Street 175 years
ago and is noted as meeting in the Lower Falls Road with Robert
Martin as the Worshipful Master.
Ironically, the site at which the Lodge used to meet in those
days is now one of the Sinn Fein offices on the Falls Road.
As the Roman Catholic population began to increase in West
Belfast the Lodge came under various threats and attacks.
One such attack was recorded in the minutes of 1886. Nationalists
had smashed the windows of the Methodist Church School Hall
during the first Home Rule Bill riots and the Irish News printed
an article blaming the Lodge for the damage.
The Lodge sued and won their case, the Irish News paying
up a sum of £200 in 1887.
The Lodge used the money to build a new Orange Hall at the
top of Dunmurry Lane in 1894 - probably the only occasion
when the Irish News helped to fund an Orange Hall.
Sadly the Hall was targeted by arsonists over the years and
by the mid-1950s was close to handing in its warrant as many
members felt it was too dangerous to meet in the hall owing
to the location.
A new roundabout was being built, however, and the local
authority purchased the Hall to allow this development to
take place. For a brief time the Lodge met in Dunmurry Orange
Hall, until finally settling at Derriaghy.
The earliest records of the Lodge, apart from one page from
1886, date back to 1893, and history records that at least
one Lodge member served in the Boer War, with 24 serving in
the First World War, of whom three never returned. These were
Second Lieutenant William Graham (Royal Irish Rifles) from
Donegall Road, Private William Wilson (Irish Guards) from
Andersonstown, and Trooper William Hillocks (North Irish Horse)
from Suffolk.
The Roll of Honour from the First World War also has a member
who served with the Canadian forces and another who was with
the US army.
Lodge numbers have declined in recent years, but the days
when there were not enough members to carry the banner on
the Twelfth of July have thankfully passed. The dedication
of older members has shown through and in 2003 an influx of
new members showed that the tide had turned.
One of the unique artefacts which the Lodge holds is a bottle
with Orange items inside (along the lines of a ship in a bottle
idea). The symbols are Orange and they symbolise that Falls
L.O.L. No. 498 despite adversity over the years, is still
afloat and setting sail for a bright future.
Officers of the Lodge are headed by Brothers Ken Moulds,
with Gary Campbell Deputy Master, Colin Preen Secretary, Hugh
Moulds Treasurer and John Campbell Chaplain.
|
