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Factfile on Lodge
Name: Ballydunmaul L.O.L. No. 306
Founded: 1790s
W.M. of Lodge: Ashley Cotton
Location: Randalstown, County Antrim
Members of Ballydunmaul L.O.L. No. 306 were forced to meet
in a cattle shed on July 12, 1995, as the result of a republican
arson attack on their hall.
However, the lodge has survived through generations and the
hall, destroyed two days before the Twelfth that year, was
rebuilt and reopened in 1997.
The lodge looks back to the late 1790s when the warrant for
L.O.L. No. 306 was first taken out, it is believed in the
Castledawson area of Co. Londonderry. The warrant came shortly
after to the Randalstown area, making Ballydunmaul L.O.L.
No. 306 the oldest lodge in the Staffordstown District.
The lodge is sited between Randalstown and Toomebridge and
for many years walked from the Orange Hall to a place called
Pedlar's Corner, where it met up with the neighbouring Grange
Corner and Taylorstown lodges, all three then walking into
Randalstown to board a train to the Twelfth venue.
The lodge has a magnificent old photograph from 1906, with
the then Worshipful Master, John White, seated on a white
horse and the lodge flag clearly visible. For many years they
were led on parade by a flute band and then a pipe band, but
sadly these have disbanded and the lodge now hire a band.
The Orange Hall at Ballydunmaul was built in 1893 and renovated
in 1932. It was completely destroyed by the arson attack in
1995 but is now one of the best halls in the area.
In addition to the lodge, Staffordstown Accordion Band use
the hall for their practices and a community development association
also meets there regularly.
Each Twelfth the lodge holds to the old tradition of remaining
as an open lodge on parade, closing again in the evening when
it returns to its hall.
Bro. James McKee, secretary of the lodge, is the oldest and
longest serving member, with Bro. Scott McMullan youngest
member. W.M. is Bro. Ashley Cotton, with Bro. Brian Millar
the D.M., Bro. Derek Davison the treasurer and Bro. Samuel
Millar Sen. is the chaplain. Bro. Samuel Clotworthy is the
lodge Tyler. The Millar and Houston families have been strongly
associated with L.O.L. No. 306 over the years.
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