Kirlish “Chosen Few” LOL No. 380 hold Orange Victims Day Service

The service held for the second year by Kirlish “Chosen Few” LOL No. 380 as part of Orange Victims Day was held on Tuesday 1st September, 2026 at 8PM in Kirlish Orange Hall.

placeholder image — The memorial garden at Kirlish with the booklet launched at the Service | Stevan Patterson

Orange Victims Day remembers the 343 Brethren and one Sister from the Orange Institution murdered by terrorists during 30 years in what is known as the troubles. First held in 2018, the annual date of the 1st of September marks the anniversary of a republican gun attack while a Lodge meeting of Tullyvallen Orange Lodge No. 630 was being held in Tullyvallen Orange Hall at 9.30PM on the 1st September, 1975. This was the single worst terrorist attack on Orange Brethren that resulted in the murder of 5 Lodge members and 7 more wounded.

Kirlish “Chosen Few” LOL No. 380 held our first Orange Victims Day in 2025. This year the service that was very well attended was conducted by the Rev. Jonny Jordan a member of the Lodge. Sadly due to the weather the service was held in the hall and not the Memorial Garden that was opened last year.

During the service wreaths were laid and the act of remembrance was conducted by Harry Monteith a member of the Castlederg Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Following which Bryan Finlay gave a very moving testimony about witnessing the murder of his father, Ronnie Finlay on the 15th August, 1991 by republican terrorist gunmen. Bryan was aged just ten at the time and his younger brother Andrew turned 3 a few days later. As part of Bryan’s testimony he gave a recount of what happened that terrible day and how it affected his life since. The Worshipful Master of the Lodge, Stevan Patterson gave testimony of how republican terrorism affected his family, with two family members murdered and how he narrowly escaped serious injury aged just 17 in 1986 standing at the bridge in Castlederg, when a bomb exploded under a van driven by a part time UDR CGC soldier who survived the blast.

Stevan also took the opportunity to launch a little booklet that remembers the 12 Brethren and 1 Sister from the local Orange District. It covers the life stories in detail of just a few of those members of the Institution murdered in the local district. An area that suffered terribly in ethnic cleansing due to being close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. Castlederg is sadly known as the most bombed town in Northern Ireland.

Rev. Canon Peter Ferguson spoke on the Derg to Ben Nevis Challenge that had been organised by Bryan and his brother Andrew Finlay as a way to remember the murder of their father 35 years ago. This very worthy cause is raising funds for the new Derg Parish Youth Hall in Castlederg. The old Youth Hall had a special place in the life of Ronnie Finlay.