Social Essays
Flag waving Templemore Ave
One of the ironies of the parades is that whilst the 'blue bag brigade' will be very vocal in their support, often fuelled by alcohol, most, if not all of the members of the Orange Lodges will be temperate non drinking Christians.
The displays of Union flags and the Ulster Banner is an affirmation of loyalty to the British Crown and in some Loyalist area, particularly the more hard-line ones, painting kerbstones to mark out their territory is an annual job.
In the past, the 12th fortnight as it was known, meant that the then largely protestant owned businesses would close and it was a holiday period across the North of Ireland. This led to a lot of resentment as the province closed down, effectively because of one day in the year. Now, with the peace process in place and equality legislature firmly established, this is no longer the case and the disruption is now limited to the 11th night and the 12th itself.
Here supporters wave Union flags and the Ulster Banner as the banner of a Temperance lodge passes by. Flags continue to be a main bone of contention here.
The displays of Union flags and the Ulster Banner is an affirmation of loyalty to the British Crown and in some Loyalist area, particularly the more hard-line ones, painting kerbstones to mark out their territory is an annual job.
In the past, the 12th fortnight as it was known, meant that the then largely protestant owned businesses would close and it was a holiday period across the North of Ireland. This led to a lot of resentment as the province closed down, effectively because of one day in the year. Now, with the peace process in place and equality legislature firmly established, this is no longer the case and the disruption is now limited to the 11th night and the 12th itself.
Here supporters wave Union flags and the Ulster Banner as the banner of a Temperance lodge passes by. Flags continue to be a main bone of contention here.