Castlewellan District LOL No 12 holds annual Orange victims commemoration

Castlewellan District LOL No 12 holds annual Orange victims commemoration

25 September 2024

CASTLEWELLAN District LOL No 12 held their annual Orange victims commemoration parade in Dundrum last Tuesday night.

The evening commenced with a short parade of the village led by Inch Flute Band.

On arriving back at the Evelyn Downshire Memorial Hall, the brethren and a large number of the general public filled the hall for a short service. Worshipful District Master Bro Ernie Richie welcomed everyone and praised the brethren for their large turnout to remember the 

342 members of the Institution who had been murdered during the Troubles.

He then introduced the District Chaplain, Worshipful Bro Rev George Speers, to conduct the service of remembrance.

During the service wreaths were laid by Deputy District Secretary Bro John Smyth  (LOL 356)  in memory of Castlewellan Star of Temperance LOL 356 member Bro George Shaw, a member of the RUC Reserve, who was murdered outside Ballynahinch Police Station on April 3, 1987. Worshipful District Master Bro Ernie Richie then laid a wreath on behalf of the Castlewellan District LOL No 12 in remembrance of all the 342 brethren and sisters.

Among those present at the service were members of the McCready family from the Rathfriland area, whose  brother, Thomas John, a member of the 3rd County Down Battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment was murdered on November 17, 1974.

His brother, Brian McCready, laid a wreath on behalf of the family who have relations involved in the Castlewellan District. It was most appropriate to have the family present on this occasion as it nears the 50th anniversary of their relative’s death.

The Rev Speers recited poignant words from Laurence Binyan’s poem, For the Fallen.

In a short address, Rev Speers condemned the brutality that had led to the deaths of so many people during the Troubles and in particular the 342 Orange Order members including Bros McCready and Shaw. 

In closing the District Master thanked Inch Flute Band for leading the parade, the junior boys and girls lodges and the local and visiting brethren both male and female for coming out in such large numbers. The evening closed with the singing of the national anthem.