12 juillet 2008
THE TWELFTH
Today is the 12th of July, the most important and most dodgy date of the Northern Ireland's Calendar. Last night, all the loyalists districts were up and dancing and drinking around big bonfires like the one on this photo here, burning images of the Pope, and the Irish flag. Why ? Because this date encompasses severals of British-Irish history, all of which are at the advantage of the Protestant side.
On this flags, displayed during the marches on Lisburn Road, you can see King Billie, the British King William III. On July 1st 1690, during the Battle of the Boyne (on the Irish soil) William of Orange beat the deposed king James II, and his Catholic-Irish army, and achieved the Glorious Revolution. The Battle of Aughrim, the 12th of July 1691, in which the last Catholic Jacobite army was destroyed, in the bloodiest battle fought on the Irish soil, and the reign of William of Orange was definitely secured.
All these dates merged into one to because they have in common the same ground and result : the victory and survivance of the Protestant forces and people on a predominantly Catholic and Irish country. Hence, no surprise you can see Martin Luther here.
Therefore, this date has become the most important date of the Northern Ireland calendar, the one when it is not safe to stroll around the streets. Some years ago, soldiers were deployed in the streets. Because this is a very one-sided party, and better not to come wavering the Irish flag !
