Portadown - Drumcree

Startpage Joan Lingard - The Twelfth day of July

Portadown - Drumcree - July 1998

From: THE GUARDIAN

Saturday July 4, 1998

Orangeman: 'Do they want us to crawl on our knees to them?'

John Mullin talks to the two sides expecting confrontation tomorrow at Drumcree

It was easy enough to find Ivor Young in Portadown, citadel of the Orange Order in County Armagh; red-and-white flags fluttered from twin poles on his terraced home.

His loyalism was also displayed on the wall of the lounge inside: a watercolour depicting Orangemen marching home from the handsome Church of the Ascension, Drumcree.

The marchers have taken the same route since 1807, along the Garvaghy Road and back to the start-point, Carleton Orange Hall in the predominantly Protestant town's centre - a path they intend to stick to tomorrow in defiance of the detested Parades Commission, so they can celebrate King William's 1690 victory at the Battle of the Boyne.

Mr Young, aged 60, joined his junior lodge at eight. His father and grandfather were Orangemen, as are his four brothers.

"It is handed down from generation to generation. It is my culture and my identity. I was born into it and grew up with it. It is rooted in religion, and I am proud of it."

The Orange Order, too, was born here, in 1795, when Protestants fought Catholics at the Battle of the Diamond - though violence has not always been the area's destiny. Garvaghy Road used to be known for its roses, grown in Sam McCready's nurseries where he employed both Catholics and Protestants. But in the end he sold up, disenchanted with sectarianism. That was 30 years back.

Mr Young will rise at 7.30 tomorrow, shave and shower, and put on his best suit. His sash was yesterday already out on his kitchen table. The march moves off at 11am.

"I will be making sure I have a big breakfast. We don't know how long we will be there. I will take the van up there too, loaded with soup and other food.

"We were there five days in 1996. When they fired plastic bullets on us: we were not afraid. We became even more determined.

"They can either let us through or beat us into the ground. And if they beat us into the ground, it will simply make us more determined."

The Orange Order in Portadown is overwhelmingly opposed to the Good Friday agreement. Denis Watson, the County Armagh Grand Master, was elected to the Northern Ireland assembly as an independent Unionist opposed to the deal.

The order also feels it has conceded as much as it can, locally as well as nationally. Only its 1,000 district members are allowed to march; no music is played on the Garvaghy Road; and the men walk six abreast to get down the 800 yards stretch as quickly as possible.

The order now accepts as permanent its rerouting 13 years ago away from the nationalist Obins Street on the outward path. It has cut its marches down the Garvaghy Road each year from 10 down to one.

Mr Young said: "We can see what is happening. The British government is selling out to Sinn Fein/IRA, not necessarily openly. It's proving to the Protestant people that violence does pay.

"Drumcree is our line in the sand. If we concede on this, we might as well say we are finished in our own country. We will never say that. It is inconceivable. There will be no more rerouting.

"Why should we talk? Do they want us to crawl on our knees to them? Never."