Somme heroism and sacrifice remembered in market town

Like Orangemen all over the Province yesterday, the brethren parading through the Co Down market town wore poppies in their collarettes.

Around 100 lodges and 80 bands walked from the assembly field on the Ballymacormick Road, down into the town square, passing the war memorial, and back out of the town, past Dromore Cathedral to the demonstration field on the Lurgan Road, at what is known locally as Holm Terrace.

Those gathered in the field were given a solemn reminder of the “sacrifice and courage of our forefathers 100 years ago at the Somme”.

Speaking from the platform, Co Down Grand Master, Samuel Walker, said 2016 was a year “marked with sadness as we take a moment to remember all those young men, many of whom were members of our Institution, who without waver answered the call to serve King and Country 100 years ago”.

He added: “Today we should remember all those of our Armed Forces who have fought in other theatres of war from our Province. We think of the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan and soldiers who have returned with horrific injuries and mental health problems. We should ensure that they have all the support to help them in the days ahead, and I congratulate the efforts of many lodges within this county who have organised events in support of various military charities.”

In a thought-provoking address, the County Grand Master paid tribute to the dignity and long service of the Queen in her 90th year: called on Protestants to “profess the reformed faith”: and highlighted the social and community impact of the Loyal Institution.

He said: “As an Institution we play an active role in each of our local areas and our contribution to raising funds and supporting charitable causes across the whole community is second to none.

“We provide and maintain a network of halls which are in constant use, providing much-needed facilities in many isolated and rural areas.

“At a time of government cutbacks and austerity, including education, it has been our dedicated workers who have played a role in educating our young people in music and dance. One has only to look at the number of young people in the various bands on parade today.

“The Government didn’t spend time and money teaching these young people, rather, it was our dedicated members – yet there are those within our society who would attack and destroy our halls.”

Dromore was hosting its first Twelfth demonstration in 16 years, having last held the annual event in the 2000.

Families lined the route of the parade, with huge crowds in the town square, all of them enjoying the colour, pageantry, music – and, of course, the deafening roar of those awesome Lambeg drums.

Many families could be seen tucking into a picnic on a day when the rain stayed away, and the success of the Twelfth in Dromore was a heartening experience for the organising district of Lower Iveagh.

It been a busy few years for the men of Lower Iveagh – last year, the ribbon was cut on a new arch in Dromore, and this year they had a Twelfth to organise.

Credit goes to everyone involved for making sure that the largest Twelfth in Co Down was an unqualified success.

Organisers estimated 20,000 people attended the venue, which involved some eight districts – Bann Valley, Rathfriland, Banbridge, Lower Iveagh West, Loughbrickland, Gilford, Newry and Lower Iveagh. Dromore is a town with deep Orange roots and is mentioned in the popular Orange party piece ‘The Sash’.

Some of the South Down lodges have a strong Lambeg drumming tradition, which featured prominently in the parade.