No replies to this topic

[Kilsally]

Anniversaries Must Be Marked
http://grandorangelo...1/article6.html
Article 6~ April 2011


The opportunity to mark very important historic Northern Ireland anniversaries between 2012 and 2021, outlined in the March issue of this paper is exciting, and must be seized by the Unionist parties, as well as by the Loyal Orders.

It is a wonderful opportunity for all sections of the Unionist population to stand together, united in their determination to pay tribute to the men and women who stood firm for justice, freedom, and for Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom.

Unionism has been badly divided for some years, with rival politicians hurling insults at one another. This has caused dismay among many unionist people, and has been reflected in mediocre voting trends, resulting in some seats falling to republicans and nationalists.

It is time for Unionism in general to look back with pride on the origins of Northern Ireland and to be fired with renewed pride in their country.

It is very encouraging that the Orange Order has given the lead in calling for a programme of events to commemorate the historic moments in the history of this province and part of the United Kingdom.

The 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme will be a most important anniversary. The ranks of the 36th (Ulster) Division contained thousands of Orangemen, and a large proportion gave their lives on July 1, 1916.

No doubt the Easter Rising in Dublin will figure a lot in the events in the Republic of Ireland when 2016 comes around, and there will be little reference to the hundreds of young British soldiers who were killed in cowardly ambushes at Mount Street bridge and other parts of Dublin.

It is vital that the world learns that there was a great deal more happened in 1916 than the Easter Rising which was largely confined to Dublin.

It was a year when thousands of Ulstermen, and many southern Irishmen paid the supreme sacrifice to defeat German aggression, and protect small nations like Belgium.

When the Rising took place in Dublin it involved only a small proportion of the Irish population. Indeed, as the rebels were marched into captivity after their surrender at the GPO, they were jeered and heckled by many of the Dublin poor, who also waved Union Jacks at them.

That is a historical fact, and is largely ignored by modern historians, and it was the execution of some of the leaders of the rebellion that transformed the situation and allowed Sinn Fein to portray them as martyrs.

Far more Irishmen were serving in the British Army in 1916 and fighting the Germans in France than the comparative few who rose in revolt against the British in Dublin.

That is why it is so important that the 100th anniversary of the Somme is marked in a big way, and especially by the Orange Order, remembering its brave brethren who died in action.

The other big commemorative on the horizon will by the centenary of the state of Northern Ireland, and it is imperative that the Unionist parties sink their differences to get the message across that Northern Ireland is very much part of the United Kingdom.