Traveling to County Armagh with the Orange Order

September 7, 2013


Our charter bus at Dan Winter's Cottage

As part of the single identity work being done within the Protestant community, I had the privilege of traveling with members of the Orange Order to County Armagh to visit two historically significant buildings that are dear to Protestants in Northern Ireland—Brownlow House and Dan Winter’s Cottage.

 



Brownlow House / Lurgan Castle - County Armagh

Brownlow House, also known as Lurgan Castle, is owned by the Lurgan Loyal Orange District Lodge and is also the headquarters of the Royal Black Institution.  Both the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution are Protestant fraternities whose histories and traditions go back to the late 1700s.



Dan Winter's Cottage/House

Dan Winter’s Cottage/House is located in the heart of where the Battle of the Diamond was fought in 1795; it is also the birthplace of the Orange Order, which was established in 1795.  Today, the house serves as a museum for relics from the battle and for memorabilia of the Orange Order.  Dan Winter’s ancestor, Hilda, serves as the house’s custodian and is also a marvelous storyteller of the house’s history.

While sitting in the museum with the ladies of the Orange Order, waiting for the men to complete their business meeting in the next room, I made the “mistake” of asking Hilda why this house, which we had traveled well into the back roads of Northern Ireland to get to, was so important.  Hilda smiled mischievously and launched into the tale of the Battle of the Diamond, complete with names, places, and insults thrown between sides.  She was absolutely delightful, stopping every so often to check that she wasn’t going too fast for her audience.  We all smiled, nodded, and urged her on. 

 

While Hilda’s stories of Irish history were very interesting and highly entertaining, it was her explanation of the cottage’s current significance that was of most interest to me.  She explained how groups of school kids from both traditions travel from all over Ireland to visit the area and learn about the beginning of sectarian violence in Ireland.  She shared with us the shift in perspective she sees in the children after they learn how easily a simple spat between folks who previously were friends can be turned into three hundred years of hatred and violence.  Through her stories, Hilda is confident that the next generation will be inspired to create and sustain peace for further generations.
 

Sharing this time with Hilda and the ladies of the Orange Order was especially powerful.  I truly believe we established a strong connection to the house, the history, and each other.