Fermanagh Twelfth of July: Delight as full-scale celebrations return

The institution is focusing on Fermanagh’s Twelfth as being a day for all the family.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, new County Grand Master, Wor. Bro. Mervyn Byers, and new Deputy County Grand Master, Wor. Bro. Norman Donaldson, detailed some of the plans for this year’s demonstration.

Mr. Byers, a member of Killedeas LOL 558, has been in the institution for 34 years, serving at district and county level.

Looking forward to this year’s Twelfth, he said: “We’ve a really good programme for it, and we are back in the county town [Enniskillen], which is great and it is the first Twelfth for both of us.

“The plan is to have characters going at the front as a bit of children’s entertainment, and really have it as family entertainment.”

Detailing his background, Mr. Donaldson – a member of Churchhill LOL 1719 – said: “I’m only a young man in the institution; I have been in 15 years, and joined whenever I was eligible to join.”

Looking forward to The Twelfth, he added: “The county town is always a great venue for it – you remain central, and you’re never away from the crowds, and I think it is the kickstart that it needs, post-Covid.”

Both are keen to develop youth within the institution during their tenure. When asked about the age profile of the organisation, Mr. Byers said: “We have a youth committee, which was started this year, and is chaired by Norman. One of my pointers when I got in was to have a youth committee.”

Mr. Donaldson said: “Within Fermanagh, we have a strong age profile, but at the top of the organisation you often see the older age profile coming through. What we are trying to do looking forward is to develop the youth [involvement].

“Youth is everything – if you don’t cater toward the youth, it leaves them behind.”

When questioned by this newspaper if the institution, which has had senior members partake in anti-Northern Ireland Protocol protests, is a political or religious organisation, both Mr. Byers and Mr. Donaldson emphasised that the Orange Order is a religious, culturally-based organisation.

‘Political neutrality’

Mr. Donaldson added: “It is quite ambient [in nature], especially with issues involving the constitution. We have always kept political neutrality, in terms of Unionism.

“Our fundamentals are religious, but when the noise is on around you [in the membership], you pick up on that.”

Both are looking forward to “kick-starting” the institution in Fermanagh, following the Covid-19 lockdowns, and noted they are keen to embrace any challenges ahead.

Inspired by other public art works, the County Grand Master and his Deputy have also unveiled new Platinum Jubilee crowns – 70 gold crowns have been commissioned to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, and the pair are encouraging people to enquire about the significance of them across the county, with the first crowns currently being installed.

The Platinum Jubilee commisioned crowns

They added: “The crowns have been commissioned to [be installed in] Orange halls, band halls and church halls, as well as anywhere else that wants [them], with the hope that in ten years’ time, people will drive around the county and go, ‘What’s that about?’ like they do with the swallows [installed around Enniskillen as part of an arts project].”

This year, 18 venues across Northern Ireland will host The Twelfth demonstrations, with Enniskillen’s set to move off from 12pm.

The charity chosen this year for The County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge is Action Mental Health.

Speaking of supporting the charity, Mr. Byers noted that taking care of your mental health “is an important issue and everyone has been affected by it some shape or form”.

The Twelfth demonstrations will follow the traditional Rossnowlagh demonstration, to be held as always in Co. Donegal in the Republic in the preceding weekend, that this year sees it taking place on Saturday, July 9.