Thursday 12 July 2012

12th JULY RESOLUTIONS 2012


FIRST RESOLUTION: -  Faith





As members of the Loyal Orange Institution we give thanks to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which we enjoy.  We believe that there is only one true and living God, the Creator of Heaven and earth.  We praise God for His great self-revelation in the pages of Holy Scripture and for sending His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Saviour.

Today we remember God’s covenant of grace which has made salvation available to all who will repent of their sin and trust in Jesus as their Saviour.  In an increasingly secular world we urge all men to study the Scriptures so that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit they may come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.


SECOND RESOLUTION:  Loyalty

We the Orangemen assembled at Barnetts Demesne, Belfast, extend our Heartiest congratulations to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the Diamond Jubilee of her accession to the Throne.  We give thanks to Almighty God for Her Majesty’s devoted service to this country and the Commonwealth.  We gratefully appreciate Her Majesty’s visit to Northern Ireland last month as part of her Jubilee celebrations. We pledge our continuing loyalty to Her Majesty The Queen and her heirs and successors, being Protestant.  With all of her loyal subjects we pray – God Save the Queen


THIRD RESOLUTION: The State

We the Orangemen assembled at Barnetts Demesne, Belfast. commemorate with pride this centenary year of the signing of the Ulster Covenant of 1912, mindful that the stand of our forefathers against Home Rule helped preserve our identity and retained our cherished position within the United Kingdom at that time and thereafter. We remain convinced that the Union offers the best possible future for all the people of Northern Ireland as equal citizens of the United Kingdom.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Keep Ulster Tidy on Twelfth, says Order


THE Orange Order has issued a reminder to the tens of thousands of people expected to enjoy this year’s Battle of the Boyne anniversary celebrations to be “tidy on the Twelfth”. 

The Grand Lodge of Ireland has urged members of the public to be litter conscious next Thursday and to avail of the many refuse bins provided at each of the 18 parade venues across the Province.

The anti-litter message has been endorsed by the Order’s cartoon mascot, Diamond Dan, and features on leaflet documentation which will be distributed at selected flagship demonstrations.

This year’s Twelfth parades recommended by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland for tourist flagship status as part of the biggest festival in Northern Ireland will take place in Carrickfergus, Enniskillen and Ballynahinch.

David Hume, Director of Services for the Orange Order, insisted the Loyal Institution was committed to playing its part in helping to create a cleaner environment.

He said:
"In Northern Ireland there are often complaints about the level of litter after events and there are people who thoughtlessly throw down litter. 
"We want to encourage those who attend our events to extend the pride they show in the Orange Order to pride in keeping our country tidy for not only visitors but also everyone who lives here.
"Where there are litter bins there is really no excuse for dropping litter. We need as a society to address littering and to encourage people to be tidier.
"That is why we felt that Diamond Dan, who was designed as a character with a message for our young people, should convey an anti-litter message this Twelfth at our flagship festivals in Ballynahinch, Carrickfergus and Enniskillen, but the message is for all venues of course." 

The other Twelfth demonstrations are scheduled to take place in Crumlin, Portglenone, Ballymena, Broughshane, Cloughmills, Keady, Belfast, Newry, Kilkeel, Donaghadee, Tobermore, Coleraine, Pomeroy, Castlederg and Aughnacloy.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

A Statement on behalf of the County Grand Lodge of Belfast on the Parades Commission Determination regarding Ligoniel Lodges on the Twelfth of July


A meeting of County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast has taken place with representatives from the three Ligoniel Lodges affected by the Parades Commission attempt to deny them of their traditional ‘Twelfth’ celebrations, through the ludicrous decision insisting that they return past Ardoyne shop fronts by 4 pm.  


In addition to the normal denial of rights and freedoms that the Parades Commission regularly impose, this impossible demand would deny these Brethren the opportunity to attend the Platform proceedings, including the religious service at Barnett Demesne. It would also see a parade return through the City Centre at a time when the Orange Institution and Belfast City Centre Management have worked for several years to maximise footfall for local traders. It is clear that the policing and traffic flow implications of this 4 o’clock deadline have not been thought through. We would therefore urge that common sense prevail and this ill conceived stipulation be changed.


All Belfast Districts pledge their full support to the Ligoniel lodges and thank the North and West Parades and Cultural Forum, the local community and politicians for their ongoing support and efforts to resolve this issue. Further meetings are planned to address this mess that the Parades Commission have yet again created.

Monday 9 July 2012

Belfast County Boyne Anniversary Parade


Upcoming Parade

Belfast County Boyne Anniversary Parade
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Assemble at Hopewell Avenue @ 9:45 am for 10:00 am parade.

Monday 2 July 2012

Belfast Twelfth Parade will Celebrate Covenant


The parade to mark the 322nd anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne will leave Belfast Orange Hall, at Carisle Circus, at 10.00am.

The Millar Memorial Flute band will lead the parade as it makes its way along Clifton Street, Donegal Street, Royal Avenue, Castle Junction and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall.

A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph in the grounds of the City Hall shortly before 10.30am and the parade will then proceed via Donegal Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to Barnetts Demense.

As usual, thousands of spectators including visitors from other countries are expected to line much of the route through the capital city.

The platform proceedings at Barnett’s Demesne will begin at 3pm and the chairman for the afternoon will be the County Grand Master, Tom Haire. The resolutions will be read by Rev. Ronnie Johnston, Deputy County Grand Chaplain, Rev. Mervyn Gibson, County Grand Chaplain

It is expected that 70 bands will take part in the parade and they will make their return journey at 4.15pm.

In the souvenir booklet for the Twelfth in Belfast, the County Grand Master Tom Haire said:

“This year we will see the centenary of the signing of Ulster’s Solemn League and Covenant in 1912. This was a defining moment in the history for our people, when the steely determination of Ulstermen and Ulsterwomen secured our cherished position within the United Kingdom and thwarted the ambitions of republicans to destroy our heritage, culture and way of life.
“The Ulster Covenant commemoration, which will occur throughout the year, will be an excellent focus for the Unionist community and provide us with time to reflect and to give thanks for our forebearers who stood steadfastly in defence and support of the union.
“As County Grand Master, I am greatly encouraged by the upsurge in tourist interest in the Twelfth celebrations in Belfast.
Indeed each year the television coverage reveals visitors from not only other parts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland but also from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and mainland Europe. Some are coming to rediscover their roots, other are just curious but they all want to be part of the biggest cultural festival in Europe. Let’s hope they receive a truly warm Ulster welcome.”

Boyne Anniversary Service


Upcoming Church Service Parade

Boyne Anniversary Service
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Assemble at Hopewell Avenue @ 2:15 pm for 2:30 pm parade.