Sir, – As a member of the Orange Institution, I welcomed the invitation to the grand secretary, Drew Nelson, to address the Seanad and the majority of his speech (“Protestant community’s difficulties emphasised”, Home News, July 4th).
It is as a member of the Dublin and Wicklow branch, however, that I have some difficulties in this branch being excluded from the invitation. Mr Nelson paid heavy attention to the difficulties of the Protestant community along the Border regions, but school cutbacks are causing as much trouble this far south too.
In reference to institutional marches, the proposed church parade by my branch in 1995 to mark the first location of the organisation on Dawson Street had to be cancelled due to threats of violence. The Love Ulster parade so brutally attacked by republican elements in 2006 was not organised by the Orange Institution in any shape or form.
I feel that the institution hierarchy has missed a vital moment in the history of our organisation by not consulting the southern brethren ahead of this address for our input, especially as 2012 sees the 100th anniversary of the Ulster Covenant as formulated by Dublin Unionist leader Edward Carson, and which was signed by 500,000 people. This weekend will see two commemorations of those who fell in July 1916 on the Somme as part of the Royal British Legion service at Islandbridge and the National Day of Commemoration in Collins Barracks in Dublin. Surely Mr Nelson will be aware of the members of the Orange Institution who served and indeed fell as part of the 16th Irish Division alongside their fellow members in the 36th Ulster Division? It is obvious to many that the northern hierarchy has no interest in their southern brethren or indeed in any Protestant communities outside of the Border areas.
Mr Nelson also referenced republican demonisation of the Orange Institution creating a bad public profile, but surely the exclusion of the southern lodges is a bigger problem? – Yours, etc,
