| Billsticker | Date: Friday, 2012-04-13, 0:35 AM | Message # 1 |
Lieutenant colonel
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| [code]STORMONT SETTING FOR CENTENARY
The Orange Standard (P.1 April 2012 Edition)
THE HISTORIC grounds of Stormont will be the setting for a major parade of the Loyal Orders to mark the centenary of the Ulster Covenant of 1912.
Permission has been given by the Minister of Finance, Sammy Wilson MP, to have the large event staged in the grounds of the historic Stormont estate, with the statue of Sir Edward Carson and the Northern Ireland Parliament buildings as a backdrop.
The move comes after protracted discussions with Belfast City Council over the possibility for a venue in the city.
However, concerns were expressed that the council's playing fields at Strangford - home to the 1990 Orange tercentenary parade - were too small to contain the Loyal Orders event, planned for September 29, 2012.
The Orange Order then asked the council to consider Wedderburn Playing Fields and Grove Playing Fields as alternative possibilities, but at the same time efforts were made to secure Stormont as another option.
The Grand Lodge, meeting in Bessbrook on March 24, ratified a recommendation from the 1912 Committee and Central Committee of the Institution that Stormont be the venue for the event.
The parade to Stormont will be lengthy, probably resulting in a six mile walk for many of those taking part, but is it also seen that the location has outstanding historic resonance, with the statute of Carson dominating the Prince of Wales Avenue and overlooking East Belfast and the grave of Lord Craigavon in the grounds.
The parade will be open to all the Loyal Orders and to date the Independent Loyal Orange Institution and Apprentice Boys of Derry have confirmed they will attend.
Plans are now being drawn up on the route and format of the parade, which is expected to pass the City Hall, venue for the most famous Covenant signing in 1912.
There is also the aim of encouraging a family day at Stormont to celebrate the legacy of the Covenant during the day. However for many it is likely to be the parade which will dominate their interest in the day.
Numbers expected are difficult to estimate but it seems likely that this will be one of the largest parades seen in Northern Ireland in recent times, with supporters from Scotland and England also expected to participate.
The Grand Master and Director of Services have already met Belfast City Centre management to brief officials on the plans for the city centre and further meetings will now be ongoing with other relevant agencies relating to the event.
Message edited by Billsticker - Tuesday, 2012-04-17, 9:41 PM |
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| Culzie | Date: Thursday, 2012-04-19, 9:20 PM | Message # 2 |
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Generalissimo
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| Looking forward to this one as historically its nearer to the day of the actual signing.
I'm hoping that there is big big support from the rest of the UK, as lets not forget it was with them we wanted to stay. They showed their support in those far off days by signing a British Covenant in support of their kinsmen and women in Ulster. Lets hope they show that support again in this the 100th year of the Ulster Covenant.
Ulster Protestants consider themselves to be a separate nation. This nation they call Ulster
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