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A District of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland

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ROYAL BLACK RECEIVE LIVERPOOL VISITORS

Over the St Patrick's day weekend of 17th March 2007, a party of Sir Knights from RBP 589 Liverpool, led by then WM Sir Knight Roy McGregor visited Newtownards.

They enjoyed fellowship with local members and performed in a 'Black Ball'... [read more]

DONATIONS NEAR AND FAR FROM CRAIGANTLET

In recent months LOL 1973, sitting in Craigantlet, have been keen to show off the Order's charitable side, by donating to both local and international charities. The offering from the Lodge's annual church service this year found its way to Holywood, where it will help young Carter Buchanan, in need of a life-changing operation in the United States. For more information see www.cartersjourneyofhope.com 

Further afield, an effort from the Lodge members themselves saw two containers filled with school supplies shipped to Malawi, where classroom items are desperately needed. This simple donation was part of a larger province-wide operation, organised by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to bring educational and medical supplies to the southern-African country, often blighted by poverty and disease. For more information see www.containersformalawi.org 

THE TWELFTH IN PORTAVOGIE

Several thousand spectators packed the streets of the fishing village of Portavogie to see the North Down Twelfth parade mark the 318th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

Host lodge LOL 552 led over 40 lodges and their bands through the narrow lanes and roads of the village to the field beside the local harbour, packed with fishing trawlers, resplendent with Union Jacks and bunting. The four Districts of Upper Ards, Newtownards, Holywood and Bangor were joined by visiting bands and brethren from Scotland and England, as well as Orange-women and Junior boys and girls.

Portavogie, hosting the Twelfth for the first time since 1972, was one of 18 demonstration venues across Northern Ireland. Parades were also held in Ballyclare, Cullybackey, Tandragee, Newcastle and Coleraine. Participants in Portavogie enjoyed long periods of sunshine and a pleasant afternoon in 'the field'. There, the crowds were catered for by a range of marquees and burger stalls, ice cream sellers and stall-holders. There was of course the traditional speeches from the platform, where Orangemen heard resolutions proposed on Loyalty, Faith and The State.

Hundreds of local feeder parades were held across the province in the morning and evening, including in Newtownards, where brethren left Mary Street Orange Hall at 9.45am to parade through the town streets en route to the convoy of buses.

In the evening, the local District parade finished in Conway Square, where District Master Colin Campbell proposed thanks to the visiting brethren on parade. Annual prizes were given out including Best Lodge, won by Mill Street Heroes LOL 1908, who broke the stranglehold of LOL 1952. Best Band went again to Newtownards Melody Flute, beating off the CLB and Symington Memorial into second and third.

The 2008 Twelfth in pictures