Is the Orange Order dying out?

Jimmy Garlic

I was talking to a fella this morning and he said there has been a massive decline in membership of the Orange Order over the last ten or so years. He also said that the same OO members are marching in several towns on the 12th every year to give the illusion of numbers. By the end of the day a lot of them are fit to drop.

Is it on the way out as an organisation?

AngeGal

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I was talking to a fella this morning and he said there has been a massive decline in membership of the Orange Order over the last ten or so years. He also said that the same OO members are marching in several towns on the 12th every year to give the illusion of numbers. By the end of the day a lot of them are fit to drop.

Is it on the way out as an organisation?

Hopefully. The death of an organisation founded upon bigotry is always welcome.

Kylo Ren

Who orders oranges anyway? Just get them from the supermarket you lazy so and so.

crazygeryy

hopefully

kowloon

They need to make their parades fun. Antagonising the nationalists just isn't enough anymore. They need floats, costumes and the handing out of sweets.

y0pperz

Alive and well in Cork anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEm-zzw4FmE

Nodin

kowloon wrote: »

They need to make their parades fun. Antagonising the nationalists just isn't enough anymore. They need floats, costumes and the handing out of sweets.

...maybe a guy in assless leather chaps and a few dancing girls....

yore

Two pints of Guinness and a bottle of ord-ange for the chisler there barman

Fratton Fred

AngeGal wrote: »

Hopefully. The death of an organisation founded upon bigotry is always welcome.

I could never understand why a misogynist homophobic organisation like the orange order hated Rome so much, surely they are kindred spirits.

DEFTLEFTHAND

What kind of numbers do the Ancient Order of Hibernians have these days?

everdead.ie

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I could never understand why a misogynist homophobic organisation like the orange order hated Rome so much, surely they are kindred spirits.

It's funny because they do actually seem very similar all right.

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

What kind of numbers do the Ancient Order of Hibernians have these days?

I doubt there is many at all if any the IRB is completely gone as well.


Seems to be an older generation that is the base membership of the orange order and they are finding it difficult to attract younger members these days.

Fratton Fred

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

What kind of numbers do the Ancient Order of Hibernians have these days?

According to espn, they averaged 10,489 last season.

gobnaitolunacy

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

What kind of numbers do the Ancient Order of Hibernians have these days?

They are pretty much a US based organisation now.
You know, the lads that don't like quaaares in the parade.

The OO are declining in numbers, but there's no shortage of their sportswear and hoodie clad 'fleg'-waving brethern.

Drying out? I didn't realise they had a problem with drink.

Buzz84

It can only be seen as a good thing.

Terry1985

AngeGal wrote: »

Hopefully. The death of an organisation founded upon bigotry is always welcome.

Like the Dublin taxi driving federation?

Arpa

Terry1985 wrote: »

Like the Dublin taxi driving federation?

Bit random and a bit of a generalisation.

martinedwards

in the early 70s we were on Holiday in Mallorca in June and met a lovely family who were OBVIOUSLY RC and from the Nationalst community. names like (I can't remember) Sean & Caoimhe McGuikin or such like from a very nationalist/republical area of Belfast.

For some reason my Dad decided to go to the belfast 12th July parade that year and in the Edenderry field, who did we bump into but the same folks.

because way back then, the orange order weren't seen as the biggoted organisation they are now.

Catholics went for the day out too.

now, the world has changed, and as has been said before, the drunken scabs who walk alongside the parades are the troublemakers.

99% of Orangemen are decent coves who feel strongly enough about thier British heritage to stand up and be counted.

but personally, as a British Ulster Prod, I abhor the whole thing, and deliberately get well offside for the 12th.

we've been on holiday in rance over the 12th for the last 5 years. this year we're a bit cash light, so we'll likely be away in the caravan. if not already in Dublin or Sligo, we will cross the border to get well away from it.

anncoates

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I was talking to a fella this morning and he said there has been a massive decline in membership of the Orange Order over the last ten or so years.

Jaffa source for this?

griffdaddy

What about the Orange Organics? They were the best band going

Buzz84

martinedwards wrote: »

in the early 70s we were on Holiday in Mallorca in June and met a lovely family who were OBVIOUSLY RC and from the Nationalst community. names like (I can't remember) Sean & Caoimhe McGuikin or such like from a very nationalist/republical area of Belfast.

For some reason my Dad decided to go to the belfast 12th July parade that year and in the Edenderry field, who did we bump into but the same folks.

because way back then, the orange order weren't seen as the biggoted organisation they are now.

Catholics went for the day out too.

now, the world has changed, and as has been said before, the drunken scabs who walk alongside the parades are the troublemakers.

99% of Orangemen are decent coves who feel strongly enough about thier British heritage to stand up and be counted.

but personally, as a British Ulster Prod, I abhor the whole thing, and deliberately get well offside for the 12th.

we've been on holiday in rance over the 12th for the last 5 years. this year we're a bit cash light, so we'll likely be away in the caravan. if not already in Dublin or Sligo, we will cross the border to get well away from it.

That old jackanory . Yeah Catholics loved the orange order back in the day lol

99% are decent. Lovely misunderstood salt of the earth bigots.

ScumLord

If they're popularity is fading maybe they should change their name to the yellow order.

Jimmy Garlic

Buzz84 wrote: »

That old jackanory . Yeah Catholics loved the orange order back in the day lol

99% are decent. Lovely misunderstood salt of the earth bigots.

Personally speaking I know a couple that are decent. Just because they are OO members doesn't mean that they are foaming at the mouth bigots. That said, the organisation itself is bigoted and stuck in a time warp.

Nodin

martinedwards wrote: »

in the early 70s we were on Holiday in Mallorca in June and met a lovely family who were OBVIOUSLY RC and from the Nationalst community. names like (I can't remember) Sean & Caoimhe McGuikin or such like from a very nationalist/republical area of Belfast.

For some reason my Dad decided to go to the belfast 12th July parade that year and in the Edenderry field, who did we bump into but the same folks.

because way back then, the orange order weren't seen as the biggoted organisation they are now.
.............

On your planet, perhaps.

JD DABA

I put it down to the rise in internet usage.

Its so much easier to vent your fury at life at random people .

at wnkers like yourselves for example.

cletus van damme

i know I voted for the good Friday agreement under some assumption of peace and respect for both traditions.

Guess that's lost on some of the fools here

I am pie

The orange order membership will tail off over the years as less people attend church and less of it's members are in power in NI. Just like the new breed of SF politicians weren't personally involved in IRA activity, we'll see less and less unionist politicians involved in nonsense like Vanguard and the OO, Apprentice Boys etc.

All this 'the catholics used to love it' malarkey doesn't resonate with me. In a protestant area of north Belfast growing up in the 80s, all the catholic families in our fairly mixed neighbourhood and many of the protestant families all left town for the weekend. I certainly don't remember any cross community bonding as the OO and other oiks burnt the Irish flags and shouted No Surrender! ....maybe it was different out in the countryside.

Gosub

kowloon wrote: »

They need to make their parades fun. Antagonising the nationalists just isn't enough anymore. They need floats, costumes and the handing out of sweets.

They already have the funny costumes.

martinedwards

I am pie wrote: »

growing up in the 80s, .

yup, you're at least 10 years after my anecdote.

this was before all the Ulster says no stuff.....

as to town or country, there were areas of both that have always been inclusive and areas of both that have always been bigoted.

Nodin & Buzz84....

I didn't say ALL RC folk loved it, but there definitely were some who came along for a day out.

Obviously it wasn't on a Sunday so the swings wouldn't have been chained up.

Deedsie

What happens if July 12th falls on a Sunday?

Nodin

Deedsie wrote: »

What happens if July 12th falls on a Sunday?

No!

martinedwards

they move the parades to Monday.

like a bank holiday.

which it is up here.

weemcd

Other marching bands seem to be still popular in certain areas of the community, younger males seem to have bands associated with local football teams. These tend to be the vulgar t-shirt (blue tsunami, true blues etc. etc.) Tennants drinking, bonfire FLEG crowd. I'd say overall OO & Other memberships are on the decline, but there are still plenty of them, and plenty who turn out to watch.

Few generations to go yet, but I can see the numbers dwindling down a huge amount in the next 10-20 years as education becomes less divided and religion is less an issue for people, as it still can be in some areas.

Zebra3

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Personally speaking I know a couple that are decent. Just because they are OO members doesn't mean that they are foaming at the mouth bigots. That said, the organisation itself is bigoted and stuck in a time warp.

Just bigots then?

ProudDUB

Love their marching outfits. The snappy black suits and the wee bowler hats & the tightly rolled brollys....what's not to love? But is dressing up like Captain Peacock circa 1974, and looking like a bit of a twat, supposed to be some sort of affirmation of their Britishness or something? Would a Spice Girls outfit, or a David Beckham jersey not be a bit more, ya know, modrin 'n stuff? :rolleyes:

martinedwards

I did once get into a .... "discussion" with a DUP Mayor whenI asked why Orangemen carry poles to open high up windows....

apparently they're poleaxes to stop counter-protester breaking thier ranks.

Fratton Fred

ProudDUB wrote: »

Love their marching outfits. The snappy black suits and the wee bowler hats & the tightly rolled brollys....what's not to love? But is dressing up like Captain Peacock circa 1974, and looking like a bit of a twat, supposed to be some sort of affirmation of their Britishness or something? Would a Spice Girls outfit, or a David Beckham jersey not be a bit more, ya know, modrin 'n stuff? :rolleyes:

Maybe they could prove they aren't Irish by wearing Man United or Liverpool football shirts.......

MugMugs

martinedwards wrote: »

I did once get into a .... "discussion" with a DUP Mayor whenI asked why Orangemen carry poles to open high up windows....

What now?

Freddy Smelly

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

I was talking to a fella this morning and he said there has been a massive decline in membership of the Orange Order over the last ten or so years. He also said that the same OO members are marching in several towns on the 12th every year to give the illusion of numbers. By the end of the day a lot of them are fit to drop.

Is it on the way out as an organisation?

no they are all joining the Lemon Order now cos they are bitter

Jimmy Garlic

Freddy Smelly wrote: »

no they are all joining the Lemon Order now cos they are bitter

Haha... Very good.

NuckingFacker

Is there any truth to the rumour that all the old orange Order lads are Gay? I found it a bit hard to believe myself. Does sort of explain some of the overly anti opinions they've expressed, but it seems a bit of a stretch.

blatantrereg

Initiation ceremonies apparently include:

Tying a rope around the neck of the recruit, who, as in Freemasonry, has most of his clothes and one shoe taken from him and has a purple ribbon fastened to his shirt;

Riding the goat - a ritual in which the blindfolded initiate is wrapped in a canvas sheet and then kicked and tossed about by the assembled members of the Order;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/oct/24/northernireland.theobserver1

Karl Stein

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Is there any truth to the rumour that all the old orange Order lads are Gay?

Sounds like a rather inefficient and complex way of having a surreptitious gay fraternity.

Chad Suave

Cathal Cloch wrote: »

Sounds like a rather inefficient and complex way of having a surreptitious gay fraternity.

They are big into Pride marches, dressing up and all-male clubs though.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I think the orange sash is rather fetching. :pac:

JonEBGud

I don't see why it should.
There is St. Patricks Day on the 17th of March
every year and that is celebrated world wide.
If they want to celebrate something, let them.
This year the "Fleadh Ceoil" will be in Derry
and hopefully it will be a success.

kowloon

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Is there any truth to the rumour that all the old orange Order lads are Gay? I found it a bit hard to believe myself. Does sort of explain some of the overly anti opinions they've expressed, but it seems a bit of a stretch.

But it's the kind of rumour that is so much better even if it's not true. It's like it's designed to wind them up. I plan on spreading it.

Karl Stein

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Maybe they could prove they aren't Irish by wearing Man United or Liverpool football shirts.......

FC clubs that are global brands and owned by foreigners? Shure you wouldn't know what the nationality of a Manu or L'Pool jersey wearer is.

Stereomaniac

St. Patrick's Day brings with it it's own social issues, but they are not as infamous as those of the July 12th marches. I think that that's what it should come down to, really. Hopefully this year it will pass off without incident, but I don't think there will ever be a year where the police in that part of the world will be able to take a day off. I think, like a lot of these things, of course it is easing off. Dying off completely? Never, I'd wager. There are surely still families who are steeped in the tradition of the Orange Order. I don't know, but I'd speculate.

Chad Suave

Stereomaniac wrote: »

St. Patrick's Day brings with it it's own social issues, but they are not as infamous as those of the July 12th marches. I think that that's what it should come down to, really. Hopefully this year it will pass off without incident, but I don't think there will ever be a year where the police in that part of the world will be able to take a day off. I think, like a lot of these things, of course it is easing off. Dying off completely? Never, I'd wager. There are surely still families who are steeped in the tradition of the Orange Order. I don't know, but I'd speculate.

People say they're decent skins, but they give me the pips. Hopefully they'll be slowly squeezed out of society and somthing fresh replace them. They are far too concentrated for my liking and need diluting with a bit of fresh blood.

JonEBGud

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I think the orange sash is rather fetching. :pac:

If you were an American you would think the 4th of July
was a special day.
Got rid of the colonialists.