Rising tension over Drumcree ’3000′ parade..
The arson attack on Drumcree Church is an indication, perhaps of rising tensions around a parade planned for the weekend. The SDLP, Sinn Fein and the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition have criticised the Parades Commission for not ruling it out of order. The Parades Commission however were fairly blunt in their response:
…this parade will not process past St John’s Catholic Church during a mass service and we commend the organiser for rescheduling the parade to avoid such an issue.Finally, the Commission is satisfied that the parade organiser has no intention of allowing this parade process past Drumcree bridge or anywhere near the vicinity of Garvaghy Road. Claims that suggest otherwise have the effect of heightening local tensions and creating inappropriate fear and anger throughout the local community.
Recognising the legacy of hurt in this area, it is still a source of regret for this Commission that such a significant gulf of mistrust continues to exist among those involved in the parading issue in Portadown.
Upper Falls: “It was a rouge flute band who carried it. I am informed that it was produced in the middle parade without the consent of the lodge. ”
How large, just out of curiousity, was this banner? Even a modest banner, were it furled upon a flag pole, should not have escaped notice and invited a question on two…
Will this “rogue flute band” be invited back again next year?
Upper Falls: “You make the claim that Joe was a mass murder, I take it that you are drawing your conclusions from the fact that he was convicted of none? ”
To pick a relatively neutral counter-arguement, Al Capone was convicted on tax-evasion… does this mean he wasn’t a boot-legger and gangster?
Sorry to drag the discussion back to Mick’s posting, but why has there been no analysis of the GRRC’s position on this?
The PC has bluntly told them to wise up – that there’s no prospect of the parade going near the Garvaghy Road. Could it be that Brendan MacCionnaith senses a thaw in relations between LOL No1 and the Parades Commission and is trying to create tensions before it warms up any further and he is forced to get what he’s called for this many years – talks?
David Simpson is scheduled to be the guest speaker at this event – maybe BmC’s afraid of what he’s going to say?
why should he be scared of what simpson says. is he a master berater
D C
I wasnt at the parade and am indeed not in the OO myself. I was told that it was a small “bannerette” which was swapped with the legitimate band bannerette somewhere on the main parade. As it is standard practice for the lodge to go behind the band it is very possible that the banner wasnt seen till the parade got to the field.
wats that smell coming from uf. i know, its bullshit. are u sure ur not Upper Falls Finaghy.
Ahem, to be boring and return to the topic, can anyone answer this, since I’m not au fait with low-culture demonstrations?
A marching season from April to December seems excessive. Would it not be possible to conflate some of these marches so that their number can be halved? I take it that the bands play the same old repertoire of fife and drum tunes, so no one–spectator or participant–should be disadvantaged. In other words, hold one long march instead of two short ones.
This would surely mean less disruption of traffic and residents. Or are such considerations of minor interest to those who take part in the marches?
A rouge flute band?
Did they also break out the mascara and lipstick?
Maybe that’s the answer – if these boys put on a bit of slap and made themselves at least look attractive, they would be more acceptable to the local residents.
The orange order carried a bannerette commemorating uvf killer Brian Robinson at several parades during the year, are they rogue members. ??
PJ
i am an exile of the Blacks Road currently living on the Malone Road.
sugarsweet
“..if these boys put on a bit of slap and made themselves at least look attractive, they would be more acceptable to the local residents.”
I am a resident of the malone road, on which the 12th of July celebrations take place. They are very welcome to do so and have the whole-hearted support of the mojority of residents. Areyou a resident? If not don’t try and speak for them!
This decision by the Parades Quango is absurd. Do they not see that it is a recipe for trouble? In fact the march by Unionists is being held specifically to intimidate and terrorize the Irish community. The prospect of a herd of unemployable, beer bellied Orange losers, prancing around in medieval fancy-dress would be comical were it not for the sectarian and evil nature of the parade, or should it be ‘charade’.
cairan damey
“The prospect of a herd of unemployable, beer bellied Orange losers”
lol ive a masters nub and dont need a job, i run my own very sucessful business.
” In fact the march by Unionists is being held specifically to intimidate and terrorize the Irish community”
oh look paddy, here comes a band, and omg look @ the size of that lambeg….run….flee…im terrorised.
Cairan , with your description you seem to be describing the irish (i thought we were all irish anyway !?!?!) as a bunch of yellow pussies. easily terrorised lol
Ciaran Damery
I take it you’re a yank. Your comment is useful in that I think it illustrates part of the reason why Brendan McC is whipping up a storm – by hinting that this parade may be going near the Garvaghy Road, he is able to generate this sort of misinformed international outrage and put more pressure on the PC.
I think I read in The Irish News (does anyone have a sub) that the South African Catholic Bishops had issued a statement condemning the PC for allowing ‘the Drumcree parade’.
Ciaran Damery
“The prospect of a herd of unemployable, beer bellied Orange losers”
Sweetheart, I’m sensing a lot of pent-up and irrational hatred here.
Can I suggest for the sake of your mental stability, that asap you book a flight over to Northern Ireland (I’d stick with the official name, the travel agent probably won’t be able to find The “Brit Occupied Orange Pigs’ Statelet” on any flight schedule).
Come over and visit us soon.
Trust me, our friends from “Irish”-America, even those holding slightly, shall we say, “old-fashioned” views such as yourself, are always made to feel so welcome throughout our wee province.
And who knows, you might even meet a nice Irish Unionist girl (sort me out with a Green card and let’s take it from there;)) that’ll dispel all those nasty little prejudices that seem to be festering within that fevered mind of yours.
“unemployable, beer bellied Orange losers”
Without the orange part that would go for a good chris gaskin description. I take it there are no unemployable, beer bellied green losers then?? lol
Whats the unemployment rate on the garvaghy road? Does it keep inline with you clearly indepth analysis?
“Come over and visit us soon. Trust me, our friends from “Irish”-America, even those holding slightly, shall we say, “old-fashioned” views such as yourself, are always made to feel so welcome throughout our wee province”
Yeah sure, try walking up the Unionist bastion of the Shankill Rd when they’re ‘celebrating’ such progressive and modern events like a religious battle which happened over three hundred years ago and say that you’re Irish-American. Let’s see how much of a welcome you get from the lads in the Rex Bar or the Northern Ireland Supporters Club. Still, to be on the safe side you could bluff that you were from “Orange Toronto”.
Upper Falls: “It was a rogue flute band who carried it. I am informed that it was produced in the middle parade without the consent of the lodge. “
UF I suggest that you read up on the Shankill Rd based Old Boyne Heroes LOL 606, known locally as “The UVF lodge”. LOL 606, who OFFICIALLY carry a bannerette commemorating dead UVF members including Nogi Shaw, Basher Bates, John Bingham and Trevor King.
Colin Craig was also originally commemorated on the bannerette but his name was removed after allegations arose that he was an informer, strange eh?
Strangely enough this lodge is one of the more prominent lodges at the Whiterock lodges march along the contested Springfield Rd.I wonder why that is?
Perhaps I was being ironic.
“It was a rogue flute band who carried it. I am informed that it was produced in the middle parade without the consent of the lodge.”
Yes, the Spanish have a saying: To deny all is to confess all.
And no, it does not date from the Inquisition.
Upper Falls: “I wasnt at the parade and am indeed not in the OO myself. I was told that it was a small “bannerette” which was swapped with the legitimate band bannerette somewhere on the main parade. As it is standard practice for the lodge to go behind the band it is very possible that the banner wasnt seen till the parade got to the field. ”
And where, pray tell, were the marshals?
Failure to adequately police one’s parades should have some penalty attached — after all, its the lodge that invited this “rogue flute band.”