Orange Culture Fest

national | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Tuesday July 18, 2006 13:50

by James Reilly

Some 'cultural' activities spawned by annual Orange 'festival'

A former leader of the Orange Order and of the Ulster Unionist Party, the Reverend Martin Smyth described it as "the biggest folk festival in Europe".

Here is an account of what some of the 'folk' get up to at this time of year - from The Irish News and Daily Ireland on one day. The Orange ‘folk’ do it most of the year, but go into a frenzy of celebration of their Protestant Britishness when the sun comes out.

By the way the reference to ‘KAI’ sported by some Orangemen does not refer, as has been extensively reported, to “kill all Irish” – it is apparently a reference to an obscure Norwegian footballer who played for Glasgow Rangers. The slogan used to be KAT – “kill all Taigs” – but there was no Norwegian to whom the slogan could be attributed and so it had to be changed.

Celebrating past unionist killers

Perhaps to be celebrated by the Orange Order in years to come

Sectarian unionists from 'Irish' Street - probably a protest against the street name

Marching where other 'folk' do not appreciate the festivities

Unionists not so keen to condemn attacks

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Comments (6 of 6)

Joe Bratty - an Orange and UDA 'hero' today and yesterday

Tue Jul 18, 2006 15:14

I missed this reference to Joe Bratty's involvement in the 1992 sectarian killings on the Oreau Road.

What a fun bunch of reactionary sectarians......

How Orangemen holding five fingers aloft celebrated a previous exploit by Orange order favourite, Joe Bratty - the slaughter of five nationalists in Graham's Bookmakers on the Ormeau Road

An Orange icon's memory lives on - as a nightmare to others

who is this

by rooster

Wed Jul 19, 2006 00:14

Joe Bratty bloke?

In the tradition of those who remember Joe Bratty

Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:34

Orange squash Máirtin Ó Muilleoir
(from http://apublishersblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/orange-squa....html)

Frenzied Orange bandsmen were involved in a ugly stand-off with the PSNI in the tiny village of Stoneyford, west of Belfast, on the eleventh evening. The reason: the angry bandsmen wanted to march through spanking new developments in the once sleepy village which are now home to many families who have moved from west Belfast.
In the spirit of ecumenism for which the Stoneyford Orangeman is famous the local bonfire had boards proclaiming KAT ("Kill All Taigs"), "Butler Kiss My Arse" (the local Sinn Féin councillor is an equality campaigner) as well as stolen election posters of the same Cllr Butler.

I should declare an interest here, my personal details, leaked by the security farces, were found in Stoneyford Orange Hall in 2004. I was in good company: around 500 republicans and nationalists were on the list. There's no secret about the loyalist extremist who was gathering this information. However, despite being responsible for a series of sectarian attacks in the area, he lives a charmed existence.

Meanwhile, the Shankill was a sea of alcohol the same evening as local and Scottish Orangemen spilt out of the bars and onto the roads. Who was left to guard the bonfires? The similary intoxicated teenagers who balefully stood watch at bonfires which had grown so big with last-minute donations of toxic tyres that they blocked roads.
This is the face of the Twelfth which won't be shown by BBC this morning in its live coverage of the "celebrations". However, Daily Ireland shone a light on the dark side this morning with its exclusive report and picture from Ahoghill where the bonfire has been topped with a Tricolour bearing the words "Fuck MickeyBo", a reference to Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen who was beaten to death by loyalists on May 8 this year. Full story: www.dailyireland.com.

These neanderthals are the same young people who were identified by Joe Montgomery, Director General of the Tackling Disadvantaged Group in Tony Blair's cabinet, when he pointed out in a recent lecture that Belfast has the highest percentage of working people with no qualifications in Britain.

Continuing in the tradition of Joe Bratty - Orangemen in Ahoghill respond to the sectarian killing of Michael McIlveen

The full picture of one of the many picturesque bonfires that Orangemen erect all over the North on the eve of the 12th. Puts those KKKers in their place with their puny flaming crosses.

Cead?

by Duine

Fri Jul 21, 2006 13:36

Tá cead aighnis ag cách ach gan an dlí a shárú.

Más lochtach an blog buí, cuir dlí is cúirt air

Information on the sectarian killing of Michael McIlveen

Fri Jul 21, 2006 17:58

See information on the sectarian killing of Michael McIlveen

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76019

KAT and IHS

by Free Stater

Sat Aug 05, 2006 17:51

Well done James. But why are they so insecure?

Best to set up a field in the middle of nowhere where they can march up and down, do their bonfires and annoy nobody. And take it in turns with the republican bands. No-one outside the 6 counties is impressed with any of that stuff.

Similar to KAT/KAI, I was told by a neighbour that IHS really means 'I Have Suffered'.

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Comments (6 of 6)