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TENS OF THOUSANDS of people marched under the outstretched arm of Edward Carson on Saturday as unionism celebrated the centenary of Northern Ireland.
Like the famous unionist leader, the leaders of the Orange Order reached into the past at Stormont as they pledged to defend the place of Northern Ireland in the UK.
There were references to the Protestant Reformation and the Glorious Revolution, as well as to James Craig, the first prime minister of Northern Ireland.
The Siege of Derry in 1689 and the signing of the Ulster Covenant of 1912, both key events in the history of unionism, were marshalled by Grand Secretary Rev Mervyn Gibson as he urged attendees to become defenders of the union with Great Britain.
But Mr Gibson also gestured to the future and the next 100 years of Northern Ireland.
“We need to become persuaders for the union, not cheerleaders for our enemies through our naysaying, infighting and negativity.
“Gurning and whinging, while great Ulster Scots words, are not the British way.”
There was little sign of gurning as a carnival atmosphere took hold at Stormont where marchers and bands from across Northern Ireland massed on Saturday morning.
Brian Niblock, from Kilkeel in Co Down, attended the parade with his wife, mother, four daughters and a niece.
He told PA news agency he was there to “celebrate 100 years of our wee country Northern Ireland”.
“It is nice and Covid is hopefully in the past now and we’re here as a family having a good day,” he said.
His band from Ballymageough was leading the Co Down contingent in the parade, he said.
“It’s a big day out to be enjoyed by all.”
On stage at Stormont, a singer wore a Union Flag dress, with bunting and flags bedecking the streets in and around Belfast.
Spectators, many of whom had prepared for a long day, brought flasks of tea and picnics.
At the Arches Care Home on the Upper Newtownards Road, residents were taken out on to the pavement to watch proceedings, and some said they had never seen a bigger parade in Northern Ireland.
Buses were put on for some for the one and a half-hour walk from Stormont into the city centre.
In the centre of Belfast, a wreath was laid at the cenotaph as the parade passed by.
Unionist politicians mingled with the crowd and Orange Order bands, some of which had come all the way from Canada.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was there, while his predecessor Arlene Foster enjoyed proceedings among the crowd.
Party colleague Ian Paisley Jr was in Stormont too for the occasion, as well as Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley and Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie was there for part of the day, as was Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne.
Everyday politics did not appear to be the priority for many in the crowd as they cheered the return of post-pandemic normality.
The lack of a functioning executive at Stormont, blocked from forming by the DUP over its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol, did not weigh heavily for some.
Adele Cantley, from Hillsborough in Co Down, said: “What we can do about it? We can’t do anything about it. It doesn’t bother me at all.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to be here and be back out in the middle of it all.”
Freedom of speech as long as I agree with you.
@Eric Gaffney: far right alert!
@Argus Romsworth: Well you’re entitled to your shite opinion, that’s alright.
@Eric Gaffney: you’re triggered lad
@Argus Romsworth: I don’t see why he would be, you strongly reinforced his point by claiming an argument for freedom of speech is “far right” and offering 0 additional context for that opinion.
@JC: only the far right get triggered by the words far right
@Argus Romsworth: take the week off ffs
@Argus Romsworth: “fore roysh” the cry of the simple ton
@Eric Gaffney: You believe in ‘freedom’ to spread dangerous misinformation?
@Brendan O’Brien: Yes Windsock, that’s exactly what I believe. You’re so clever.
@Eric Gaffney: that’s a very far right attitude you have there
@jiminybillybob: ment for that argus person not gaffney
Great Cork names on that bunch of new irish that appeared in Cork Court today. Thanks Roderick our country is racing down the tubes. You just wont listen to the people
@GERRY MURPHY: When crimes are committed by people with Irish names, do you point that out too? It would certainly keep you busy.
If you don’t, you’re just pushing an agenda here.
@Brendan O’Brien: an agenda or stating the obvious Brendan
@Mick O’K: how is it stating the obvious to blame Roderic O’Gorman for the disorder that occurred in Cork last night?
@SYaxJ2Ts: did he not invite the world into our tiny island with no available housing?
@Freda Peeple: No. That’s a distortion peddled by the far right.
@Freda Peeple: you seem to know way more about the alleged perpetrators than me….are you saying that they are asylum seekers? And if so, that Roderic O’Gorman is responsible for their actions?
@Brendan O’Brien: define far right. Then tell us who these far right peddlers are
@Mick O’K: how about you tell us why Roderic O’Gorman is in anyway responsible for the incident in cork last night? That where this started, yea?
@Mick O’K: Check a dictionary. Far-right pedlars like ‘Freda Peeple’.
@Brendan O’Brien: He did & his tweet is widely available online, to state that it’s not true is actually you distorting the truth, you just can’t admit it, as your brainwashed.
@SV3tN8M4: wtf has Roderic O’Gormans tweet got to do with the disorder that happened last night in Cork?
@Ger Whelan: most of those that throw that buzzword/comment around don’t know. The funny thing is they show themselves up by throwing it around like confetti not knowing what it actually is. But sure look, bless them all
@SYaxJ2Ts: Twitter/X whatever you call it yourself will answer that question for you Kev. A government ministers account is exactly where on that platform
@Mick O’K: you are wilfully ignoring the central question here…..why is Roderic O’Gorman to blame for the events in cork last night?
@Mick O’K: you can’t produce any evidence then. Got it
@Ger Whelan: seriously? Having read this thread, that’s the position that you take?
@SV3tN8M4: No: his tweet was to tell people already in Ireland that direct provision would be coming to an end.
@Brendan O’Brien: this right here Brendan is misinformation
@Mick O’K: No, it is the truth
Liberals used to love free speech but now they are desperate to shut you up.
Macron has brought France to the precipice, just like Merkel has destroyed Germany. Fundamentalist terrorist attacks now the norm in Germany & have started here now in Ireland, thanks to our Govts non existent Immigration policy. Macron is clinging on desperately, so desperate he even invited the Communists to form a Left Govt, he will do anything to stay in power. Ironically he & Merkel will go down in history as the two who were responsible for the fall of the EU. Even the Germans have had enough & the attacks this week prior to elections there will result in bad news for the mainstream parties.
The man travelling at 150km on the M50 is a member of some other section of the community, and, as such, should/will be excused from facing any meaningful form of justice. “Justice” is just for ordinary people.
Still nothing on israelis flying genocide weapons through our airspace?
So when will their Government start going after phone companies over scam calls, etc.?
According to Wired magazine, the FBI has repeatedly instructed Telegram to install a “backdoor” so they can spy on Telegram users.
Durov has so far refused.
That may well be why he has been arrested by a staunch US ally.
Does Baguette Boy also deny a political link to his refusal to uphold the results of the recent election and appoint a Prime Minister from the victorious party.
@Ger Whelan:
As President he has a constitutional duty to ask the leader of the party which won the largest number of seats to form a government.
He has refused to do this.
@Garry Coll: Are you sure?
If that were the case, then that party could launch a court case to assert that right.
If they have not done so, or if they were unsuccessful, then that would suggest there is no such obligation on the president.
Anyone who believes you can have free speech without powerful liable laws , has never had thier face busted up for mouthing off to the wrong person
@Robert Halvey: libel laws
@Sheelagh Hanly: thanks for the spelling lesson, but do you get the point iam trying to make , we have had wars based on lies , so anyone spreading baseless lies ,could have thier family’s dna washed from existence,
@Robert Halvey: Historically the problem we’ve had with liars causing wars is that the liars were in power, told lies, then arrested anyone who stood up against that until there was no-one left to stop them. The classic example is 30′s Germany of course but we can see the same pattern in modern Russia or China.
So it appears Niemöller’s post war depiction has become relevant again, nearly 80 years later. Not that I’m surprised, humanity has ever taken a long time to learn lessons and a short time to forget them.
@Ger Whelan: that if you promote violence by lying, like Hitler you and yours die
@Ger Whelan: lad you really haven’t a clue iam a primary patient, a scaffoder that knows how to run a crew ,and a retired gangster stop blaming other people’s for your shit go back to school mightbe a start,
@Ger Whelan: I own my gaff my children have thier own gaff I have always worked on a building site I was 28 before I got my advanced scaffolding ticket and had my own company at 30 , there is on this planet ,if you gave me the right resources I could not give you a safe access to ,you know I used to believe that getting rid of ffg for a few decades was all that was required, but I went to ard school rise and little frightened little boys that blame other people for thier shit need a hug and education , I have given you alot come at me with anything other then respect
@Ger Whelan: iam 58 so I have existed for about half of my country’s existence , and because of my education I can see the benefits and beauty that migration has brought to our country, Correct me if iam wrong, you blame everyone and everybody for the fact that you are a frightened little manboy it probably goes back to your ma but it could honestly be a lover that you believe funked you over and passable involved losing access to children ,
@Ger Whelan: lad I stand by what I said ffg have raped this country for personal wealth since the foundation of the state, why the f do you think all the big building sites in ireland are going to be closed down tomorrow
@Robert Halvey: why the land tax has been suspended even do there are huge estates, owned by wealthy individuals who have never done more then a token bit of farming, but claim every tax break and farming grant , as I said lad go back to school
@Ger Whelan: deflect whataboutry, but in all fairness do you believe a lover funked you over and are you having difficulties relating to your children
Funny to watch the Russians freaking out over this.
@honey badger: go away
Not being a user of Telegram, I do not know what it is like.
Let’s allow the French justice system to run its course. If Telegram has been in breach of the law, then lets hope that those that own and/or run the operation receives an appropriate and meaningful sentence.
Then we can move on to Twitter, and any other platform that propagates hate.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Hate or the other point of view you don’t want to hear. It seems to be that nobody can have an alternate view or express an opinion now without being shouted down as racist or far right. This will inevitably lead to where France are now & eventually the only way forward will be war.
@SV3tN8M4: Always with the dire predictions of revolution, war, blood on the streets, etc. You really need to lighten up a bit.
I love a good freedom of speech so I do!
Durov is a Putin pawn. Deserves everything he gets.
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