Latest news with #ApprenticeBoysofDerry
Glasgow Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
We ask the Apprentice Boys of Derry what they stand for
For some, it is a celebration of culture history and identity for others, it is a display of bigotry and sectarianism better left in the past. The Apprentice Boys of Derry held their biggest Scottish parade of the year in Larkhall with more than 50 associated clubs, each with a band, taking to the streets, with many more following or watching from the side. READ NEXT:Rachel Reeves says Labour will end use of hotels for asylum seekers The Glasgow Times was invited by the organisation to come along and speak to its leaders to find out what it is all about. Larkhall's streets were decked out in red, white and blue for the day with Union flags hanging from lampposts, windows and in gardens along the route. Late morning in Birkenshaw Park, the parade was assembling, with groups from Glasgow, Lanarkshire and beyond. Men are meeting and greeting, shaking hands, dressed in suits and crimson collarettes, carrying white gloves and bowler hats. (Image: Colin Mearns) The flutes and drums were starting to be heard from the bands, the same bands that accompany Orange Order parades. (Image: Colin Mearns) READ NEXT:Rise in suspected drug deaths in Glasgow so far this year David Hoey, general secretary of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, was in demand, being introduced to members from around Scotland. (Image: Colin Mearns) We asked him what the purpose of the organisation is, which has 52 branch clubs in Scotland and many in Glasgow, and what the parade is all about. He answered that it is 'principally, a historical, commemorative organisation.' He said: 'The organisation has as its main purpose to celebrate the siege of Derry and the brave 13, but particularly the two big events are: the shutting of the gates, which is usually December when the Gates of Londonderry were closed against the forces of King James and then the relief of Derry when the city was finally relieved after 105 day siege in August.' 'That,' he said, 'is the primary purpose'. Not everyone, however, can join and commemorate this historic event. Mr Hoey explains: 'The criteria for membership is male and Protestant.' 'In terms of local areas, people would have to know each other and be invited, or apply and they would have to be known. 'But other than that, there's no particular criteria.' The male-only element, he said, is a support network, a place for men to come together and help one another. Mr Hoey said: 'It's a good place to meet. I keep telling people when they ask about it being male, it's the biggest men's shed organisation available because men get together, they meet. 'We're getting a remarkable number of young members into the organisation now and I think they're in where they can get people they can learn from. He added: 'They can learn skills. You have to run an organisation, you get positions on committee. You organise some of the events, and you get some of the young people involved. 'So, it's very much people coming together to try and organise and to help each other.' (Image: Colin Mearns) As well as organising parades, he said branch clubs rea active in the community and fundraise for their benevolent fund. Asked what they do when not on parade, Mr Hoey joked they are "organising the next one". He added: "There's a lot of activity, but everything is really geared to the big days. "There's occasionally a church service, but it's predominantly for those two big days." The events from 1689 being celebrated, he said, are still relevant today. (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) Mr Hoey said: 'I think it's largely identity and place, so it gives people a sense of belonging. 'There are a lot of the characteristics of those who were besieged, I think form the identity of the Protestant loyalist culture, if you like. 'And that's what people identify, the determination, the resilience, the preparedness to basically stick it out, but also to create dialogue, to try and change things as well. 'And we're very, very keen that we work outside.' The other exclusive criteria, the Protestant only rule, has led to claims of sectarianism and accusations of being anti-catholic. Mr Hoey said such claims are rooted in ignorance and said he and his organisation is willing to have dialogue to prevent any flashpoints at parades. (Image: Colin Mearns) The Larkhall parade passed with no incident but in Glasgow, there have been protests, particularly around passing a specific Roman Catholic church, and previously in Northern Ireland, there was well well-documented, high-profile, sustained and violent confrontation. Mr Hoey said: 'I think the biggest opposition comes from the people who are most ignorant of what it's all about and imagine some offence or imagine that it's against them. 'It's really not. It's for us.' On the anti-catholic accusation, he added: 'People who want to say that don't want the parades to happen and they're basically throwing or projecting sectarianism onto the parades, but they have no basis for saying that. 'This is a culture. It is on parade. It's not trying to offend anybody. It's simply walking down a very long street and being out and saying we are the association. 'We are remembering a very important part of British history and that is what the day is about. 'It's not about others or offending or anything else. It's about the identity of those people and saying this is us, we're out here having a good day with our brothers, with our friends, with our families watching.' He used the example of Northern Ireland to illustrate how communities can work together. Mr Hoey said: 'The association, 25 years ago, was the first to engage outside of itself, you know, to go to go into the Parades Commission, to work with the local community, to work with the business community because we had a really bad time with violent opposition in Londonderry and there was no violence back. 'Our approach was to engage, and I know here in Scotland the SAC (Scottish Amalgamated Committee) has been working closely with the Centre for Good Relations, again to try and open up avenues of dialogue. 'People say 'the other' but there are lots of communities in Scotland now.' They are, he said, willing to 'work in formal channels' and 'open up' as far as possible. He added, however, there are always people who just don't want you there, and it's very hard to talk to people who simply are impractically opposed and don't want to talk.' The approach in Northern Ireland, he said, took a long time but has worked but he said it is an ongoing process. He added: "We have kept working ever since because you can never stop on that process. Stopping is the worst thing you could do.' He said the willingness to engage must be a two-way process, adding: "You can do your best to reach out. But you know you hold out your hand, but if. Someone doesn't. Want to shake it's not our job to make them.'
Glasgow Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Who are Apprentice Boys of Derry who march in Glasgow this week?
The Apprentice Boys of Derry originates, and is based in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It has eight 'parent clubs' that have 'branch clubs' in Scotland, with several in Glasgow, England, the Republic of Ireland and Canada. It is a Protestant, loyalist organisation with an estimated 10,000 members worldwide. Its stated aim is to commemorate the siege of Derry in December 1688 when 13 apprentice boys closed the city gates to the troops of King James II. READ NEXT:9 loyalist parades in Glasgow on Saturday - all the roads affected The siege lasted until the following July, with thousands dying from starvation. Until today, the organisation marks both the 'shutting of the gates', sparking the beginning of the siege where the loyalist 'no surrender' slogan originates, and the 'Relief of Derry' when the siege ended. The organisation is separate from the Orange Order but some people are members of both. ABOD members wear crimson coloured collarettes. The organisation says it is a 'Christian, historical and cultural organisation, committed to maintaining the spirit of courage and liberty displayed by the Defenders of Londonderry in 1688-1689.' READ NEXT:'Don't blame us': Taxis hit back in Glasgow city centre transport row In November last year, the Apprentice Boys of Derry Bridgeton had a march halted by police when it was met by protesters attempting to stop in passing a catholic church. The protest centred around St Alphonsus Church in London Road, where in 2018 the priest Canon Tom White was spat on by a man following an Orange Order parade. Call it Out, campaigners against anti-Irish racism and anti-Catholic bigotry said the march was anti- Catholic and was intended to intimidate Catholics. Several of the Glasgow branches are holding marches this Saturday in the city.
The National
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Orange Order 'not divisive', says Tory Hamilton by-election candidate
Richard Nelson, who is running for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat, insisted that he could represent all constituents despite his affiliations, also confirming he was a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. Both groups have long been accused of sectarianism. In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Nelson confirmed his membership of both organisations and was asked whether they were compatible with holding elected office. He said: 'We are law-abiding organisations. We pledge allegiance to His Majesty the King. And, you know, we are not divisive at all, and people have their right to their own religion.' Pressed on whether he would be able to represent everyone in the community, Nelson said: 'I always do. I always have. Last week, I met with the parish priest in Larkhall – not just the parish priest, but also another priest. READ MORE: Nigel Farage accuses Anas Sarwar of 'sectarianism' as he doubles down on 'racist' ad "We sat for an hour and spoke about the local community and the things that have been happening in the community. Everybody that comes to my surgery or contacts me – I do not ask what religion they are.' He added: 'People always try and target organisations with a bad brush, but we are not. The things that we do for the local charities, the local communities… that is the part that is missing with all of this.' Nelson's entry on South Lanarkshire Council's register of interests shows that he has been a member of the Netherton Covenanters Loyal Orange Lodge 233 since 2019 and is currently listed as secretary of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. He is also a member of the Sir William Johnston Memorial Royal Black Preceptory 634. Between 2012 and 2023, he was a member of the Carluke No Surrender Apprentice Boys of Derry. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar ad is not racist, says Reform by-election candidate The Orange Order claims that it is 'the protection of the principles of the Protestant Reformation', which historically included the persecution of Catholics, and its modern-day critics point to its frequent marches through Irish Catholic areas and allege it promotes bigoted attitudes towards that community. Nelson also has a side-line as a comedy hypnotist and was revealed to have sworn at audience members under his spell at an event in Penicuik. Footage obtained by the Daily Record showed him shouting at participants: 'What are yous daeing, you d**k? I'm in the middle of a show here. A****holes. You and all.'
The National
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
How many Orange Order walks are in your council area in 2025?
An analysis by The National found there will be 280 loyalist marches across the country, according to notices lodged with local authorities. A total of 17 council areas will see parades from the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, a separate loyalist organisation. READ MORE: Over 100 Orange Walks to take place in Scotland in one day Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2019, there were 414 loyalist parades across Scotland, with almost half (192) in Glasgow, which has historically held a higher number of marches. Overall, Glasgow (106) will still see the majority of loyalist marches in 2025. North Lanarkshire (72), South Lanarkshire (32), and Falkirk (12) have the next highest number of parades scheduled. You can see the number of loyalist marches held in Scotland in 2025 below. West Lothian and North Ayrshire have nine each, Renfrewshire will host eight, while East Lothian and East Ayrshire will see six each. There will be five in Edinburgh, three in Perth and Kinross and East Renfrewshire, and two in West Dunbartonshire, South Ayrshire, Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire. In April, there was one loyalist march in the Highlands. You can see the number of loyalist marches held in Scotland between 2019 and 2025 (excluding the pandemic where restrictions were in place in 2020) below.
Belfast Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Francis would have prayed for those who mock him,' says Belfast priest who helped organise pope's Ireland visit
Father Tim Bartlett is the administrator of St Mary's, the oldest Catholic church in Belfast. He helped organise Pope Francis's visit to the Republic of Ireland seven years ago, during which His Holiness travelled to the Knock shrine on the west of the island and addressed tens of thousands of people at an open-air mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park. On Easter Monday, Pope Francis's death was mocked by some participants in an Apprentice Boys of Derry parade in Lisburn. Footage from the annual event, which is widely considered as the opener of the unionist marching season, captured the Pride of Knockmore Flute Band playing 'No Pope of Rome', lyrics to which include: 'No, no Pope of Rome, no chapels to sadden my eyes, no nuns and no priests, no rosary beads, every day is the 12th of July.' The incident came just hours after the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church died. "No Pope of Rome" played during Apprentice Boys of Derry parade in Lisburn on day of Pope's death Speaking about the event, which has been condemned by many political figures, Fr Bartlett said: 'For me, the overwhelming response from our politicians, from civic society [and] from our society has been one of sensitivity, sympathy, support and concern. Look, that's our only future. That's all I will say. 'Pope Francis wouldn't be bothered too much about it and would pray for those who maybe mocked him or joked about him. He wouldn't give him a lot of attention. Nor will I. Nor should we. 'That's their business. We have to build a better future in a different way for all of us. And the only way, Pope Francis would say, is together with mutual respect, love and care for each other.' Fr Bartlett, alongside Lord Mayor Micky Murray, opened the book of condolences for Pope Francis at Belfast City Hall this afternoon. Francis was only the second pope to ever visit the island of Ireland, after Pope John Paul II visited in 1979. Though neither ventured north, Fr Bartlett said Francis 'followed the [political] situation here in Ireland, and in the north, very, very carefully'. 'He actually had been in Ireland as a Jesuit priest in 1980 for a while to learn English,' he explained. 'He blames us for his poor English — although I don't know if he maybe just had too much fun and didn't bother about the learning of English. We just don't know! 'But he also knew a lot of Irish missionaries in South America, and that was one of the reasons he chose to come to Ireland as pope, because his theme was 'let's go out, let's be missionaries, let's go out to the peripheries, the poor, the marginalised'. 'He saw the church in Ireland as a church that had done that over the centuries, and he wanted to honour that and to come and be part of it. 'But he also followed the political situation here very carefully, was well advised about it, and the only reason in the end that he didn't come north was [because] the original programme was too tight. 'And the more he looked into it, and others looked into it, there was so much that could be done and needed to be done. 'They realised [that a visit north] couldn't fit into the event, [with] the work meeting of families that was happening in Dublin. 'So, it was an open, alive invitation, right up to the moment of his death, that he might have come and visited this part of our island as part of a wider visit.' The Belfast-born priest also witnessed Pope Francis compose his personal apology to victims of abuse in the Catholic Church, which the pontiff then read at his mass in Phoenix Park. Some members of SAVIA (Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse) in NI said that although Francis was 'hands-on, with a big heart', they hope that the new pope will have 'a proactive approach to dealing with victims'. Fr Bartlett said: 'Pope Francis, I think, would have been the first to say there's just no response you can give, no apology that's adequate [for] the whole scale of abuse within churches and other institutions in society, and no apology is sufficient for any individual and what they experienced in terms of abuse. 'But it was important — and I think history will record this — that not only did he issue an apology, but it was from his heart. It was written by his own hand, in his own words, after meeting survivors of abuse.'
