Orangemen in Republic shocked by graffiti
ORANGEMEN and supporters travelling to the Rossnowlagh parade in Donegal at the weekend, were shocked by sectarian slogans in a small border village in the Republic.
The words "No Marching", "Brits out" and "**** off orangemen" were painted across the breadth of the street in Ballintra, through which many of the parade supporters passed.
Kerbs were painted green, white and gold, with tricolour flags flying from several poles in the village, which held a small parade prior to the main event in Rossnowlagh on Saturday.
An Irish flag was also painted on the Orange Hall in the village while most of the graffiti centred around the local Methodist Church.
One man who spoke to the News Letter described the graffiti as worse than anything he had seen in Northern Ireland.
The man who did not wish to be named said: "There was graffiti painted from the top to the bottom of the road.
"I have seen bad graffiti in Northern Ireland, but that takes the cake. It is a mixed area, and I have no doubt that it will bring ill-feeling."
Grand Master of the Donegal Branch of the Orange Order, David Mahon said he had received calls of support from across the local community in Donegal:
"I have had many calls from all sections of the community. Many of them wished to dissociate themselves from what was written, while others gave their support to the Order", said Mr Mahon.
The Grand Master, who himself hails from Ballintra, labelled the graffiti as an 'attack on Protestantism'.
"Ballintra is a mixed village, and we have never had any real bother in the village before. There may have been the odd slogan written, but nothing on this scale.
"This is an attack on Protestantism, plain and simply. I firmly believe that those responsible for this represent a very small percentage of the people.
"We had a great Twelfth in Rossnowlagh this year, and I am sure that this small minority who did this will not have any impact on our future celebrations here in Donegal."
He added: "What these people do not realise is the damage that they are doing to their own community, and I know the people of Ballintra are totally against this."
Sinn Fin representative Jim McLaughlin condemned the incident unreservedly. "This vandalism in Ballintra is completely unacceptable and must be condemned. The defacing of the area around the church, a place of worship, is a disgrace", he said.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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