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An Orange Order delegation has visited the Battle of the
Boyne site near Drogheda to be given an update on the multi-million
pound project being undertaken by the Irish Government.
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in July 1690 between King
William 3rd and his father-in-law King James 2nd. Both kings
commanded their armies in person, 36,000 on the Williamite
side and 25,000 on the Jacobite side. It was the largest number
of troops ever deployed on an Irish battlefield.
At stake were the English throne, French dominance in Europe
and the balance of power in Ireland.
The Irish Government bought 550 acres of land around the
battlefield for approximately 10M Euro. This will protect
the area from further housing development on the outskirts
of Drogheda. A further 10M Euro will be spent upgrading the
site into one of the biggest tourist attractions on the island
of Ireland.
This summer between May and September, 25,000 people including
many from Northern Ireland visited the Boyne site which has
still to be marketed as a tourist location.
The Orange Order delegation consisted of the Grand Master,
Robert Saulters, the Grand Treasurer Mervyn Bishop and senior
Orange Order members from the Republic of Ireland.
The visit was facilitated by Dr. Martin McAleese, husband
of the President of the Irish Republic, and Belfast solicitor
Mr Denis Moloney. A number of officials showed the delegation
around the site and explained that the work should be completed
by the summer of 2008.
An interpretative centre will be located inside the 18th
century Oldbridge House which stands on the site and this
will include a state-of-the art topographical model of the
battle which will have a laser show illustrating the movement
of the troops on the day.
Irish Government officials believe it will be the best model
of its type at any European battlefield.
The centre will also have a library and a collection of historical
paintings and books about the battle. Replica weaponry will
be on display and there will be a tea pavilion.
A walled garden at the rear of Oldbridge House will be restored
and horses will be kept in a number of new stables. It is
believed that more than 5,000 horses were involved in the
battle and it is hoped that the horses will give people, particularly
children, a sense of what happened.
A new entrance is being built for the site and there will
be extensive new car parking. Guided tours will be available
to take people around the battlefield and explain the crucial
actions on the day.
Grand Master Robert Saulters said it was fascinating to see
the work that was being done at the Boyne.
"At the moment it is a bit like a construction site
but the plans we were shown were impressive. I believe that
this will be a major tourist attraction for people from Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and much further afield,"
he said.
"Already many of our Orange brethren visit the site
but when it is completed I am sure the numbers will increase
dramatically.
"The work being done by the Irish Government to preserve
this important site brings a very important legitimacy to
the celebrations of the Orange Order and they deserve great
credit for everything they are doing."
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