Orangism and Republicanism

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Thursday March 10, 2011 17:28 by Ruairi Og

Challenging the Orange Order

The following letter appeared in various newspapers last year addressing the issue of Orangism and the Orange Order in particular. I came across it and believe it is worthy of republication here. Specifically as the issue that is addressed is the clash between Republican ideology and Orangism, which have become pertenent with the debate around the British Monarch coming to Dublin in May. The traditional battle between Republican's and Monarchists is still with us and will remain while the so-called Irish Question is unresolved

A Chara

With the Orange 'marching season' underway throughout Ulster, including here in Donegal, I feel obligated to challenge attempts to portray the Orange Order and the Loyalist ideology as something they are not. Attempts are ongoing to present the Orange Order and the other Loyal Orders as harmless cultural groups. Their so called 'cultural' position is one of reveling in the colonising and supplanting of Irish Gaelic culture. They represent the glorification of Britain's brutal occupation of Ireland. The Loyal Orders represent a political ideology; one based on sectarian hatred and racist bigotry. The very foundation of the Orange Order in 1795 was part of British efforts to undermine & destroy the Republican egalitarian movement, the United Irishmen.

Orangism celebrates division and conflict. Indeed, this year the Orange Order and their front organisations are attempting to glorify the 'Plantation of Ulster’. This period in our history would be better described as the colonial occupation and ethnic cleansing of Ulster; the consequences of which are still with us today. The Orange Order stands in stark contrast with the egalitarian and democratic Irish Tradition, which is aimed at “Uniting Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter”. The Orange Order has no positive contribution to make in the search for a better Ireland and people are right to oppose them and their intimidating marches.

Mise le meas,

Jim McLaughlin, Donegal Town.