Northern Ireland cross-community project: Locations of five lost Orange Halls to get Blue Plaques in Lurgan after chance meeting at Armagh Fleadh

Colin McCusker, an Orangeman and Lambeg drum enthusiast, and local historian Jimmy Conway have together produced plaques to mark the former locations of the halls.

Colin said the seeds of the project were sown after he was invited to take part in the Armagh Fleadh, hosted in Lurgan, in May 2023.

"I was invited along to play Lambeg Drums as part of a cross community event," Colin said. "And there I met Jimmy Conway, a local historian from a nationalist background.

“And he started reminiscing about the fact that his family were very good friends with the Cush family, who were founding members of my lodge, Boconnell LOL 123.

"And he said he was a great shame that there was nothing in Boconnell Lane to mark the fact that the orange hall was once there.

"So that got me thinking that it might be an idea to put something up to mark the location. And then that reminded me about four other orange halls that I knew no longer existed in the area;- Annaloiste, Drumgor, Bluestone and Tamnificarbet."

The reason all five halls disappeared was because they were vested by the authorities in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

However, the only public works progressed on any of five sites was at Drumgor, on which the Housing Executive built Enniskeen housing estate.

The only physical trace left of the five halls are the ruins of Bluestone, he added.

"It never occurred to me until now that four out of the five didn't really need to be vested," Colin added, "It is rather sad because Orange lodges were based in communities in those days and many of them lost their footing after their hall was vested."

Mr Conway warmly welcomed the outcome of their partnership.

“I was delighted to see the Lambeg drums take part in the Fleadh," he said. "It was great to see both cultures coming together to celebrate their own musical identities. As a result, I have been able to support Colin in his quest to mark this important part of our local history and as a local historian it has been a pleasure to be involved. We are both indebted to the Lord Mayor for her encouragement and support.”

The project has been supported by the Lord Mayor of Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Alderman Margaret Tinsley.

“I was delighted to be able to support Colin and Jimmy with this project and trust the new plaques will keep the history of these Orange Halls across the Borough alive,” she said.