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Bloomberg
12-07-2025
- Bloomberg
Northern Ireland's Orange Bands Should Stop Marching
July is marching season in Northern Ireland. The 12th of the month, which falls on Saturday this year, marks the culmination of a series of parades in which members of the majority Protestant community celebrate their ancient right to dress up in anachronistic bowler hats and orange sashes and intimidate their Catholic neighbors. There are marches, often through nationalist areas, bonfires and, although far less often than in the bad old days, sometimes riots. Sensibly, many Catholics chose to take their annual summer holidays around the 12th, the more prosperous traveling abroad while the less well-heeled escape across the border into the Republic of Ireland for bucket-and-spade vacations in Donegal or Galway. Those who remain are faced with a stark reminder that for all the strides in healing these divided communities — which, bar sporadic flare-ups, have broadly lived in peace since 1998 — Northern Ireland is not a normal place.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- New York Times
Police Investigate Burning of Migrant-Boat Effigy in Northern Ireland as a Hate Crime
The police are investigating the burning of an effigy depicting Black migrants on a boat as a 'hate incident' after it was set alight as part of annual loyalist celebrations in Northern Ireland. A boat containing life-size mannequins wearing life jackets was set on top of a tower of wooden pallets in Moygashel, County Tyrone, above banners reading 'stop the boats' and 'veterans before refugees.' The bonfire was set alight in front of a large crowd on Thursday night as part of wider events marking the start of Twelfth of July, which commemorates the 1690 victory by a Protestant king, William III, over a Catholic king, James II. For more than a century, members of the Protestant community have taken part in annual marches and parades around July 12. During the Troubles, the sectarian conflict between Catholic and Protestant communities, 'marching season' was a source of tension and, at times, violence. While the marches have become less fraught in recent years, the bonfires remain a source of concern to police, some of whom fear they can stoke lawlessness. A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they had received several calls about the fire and the 'material that has been placed upon it,' which was being investigated as a 'hate incident.' The force said that officers were working to 'help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe,' but cautioned that they can 'only do so within the legislative framework that exists.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
