APPRENTICE BOYS’ – PROTESTANT IDENTITY
} Since the foundation of N-Ire Protestants had thought of the state as Protestant and British.
} Although there were different religious groups within Protestantism (Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist) they all promoted a common acceptance of the Northern state and often displayed British flags.
} The Catholics living in N-Ire were seen as treacherous and unworthy enemies of the state.
} The official curriculum in schools taught English history, geography, literature and culture and made little reference to Ireland at all.
} They defined the 2 parts of Ireland as completely separate and different places, and they believed strongly that they had nothing in common with the rest of Ireland.
MARCHES
} The most distinctive part of their culture is the tradition of loyalist parades. These are organised by the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys’ of Derry.
} The marches commemorate significant events in the history of Protestantism in Ireland. They are used to remember past victories in the religious struggles for supremacy in Ireland.
} They are used to unite Protestants in a common determination to hold out against any threat to their position or status from the Catholic/Nationalist majority in Ireland.
} The marching season lasts from Easter until August and they march the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. After the parades there are picnics and speeches from politicians.
} Catholics often dislike the marches as they are seen as triumphalist and tribal. This is because they celebrate Protestant victories over Catholics and are therefore divisive and ignore how these victories for Protestants made life very difficult for Catholics in Ireland.
Ø The biggest parades are the 12th of July celebrations of the Battle of the Boyne victory and the Apprentice boys celebration of the siege of Derry.
Protestant attitudes and beliefs : summary
} 1) Northern Ireland is Protestant and British.
} 2) The state exists to protect Protestants from outside and inside threats. – The Irish government, Irish Catholicism and the wider Catholic Church.
} 3) The Unionist government should strongly resist the Republic in its ambitions for a United Ireland.
Ø 4) A united Ireland would be disastrous for Protestants in Northern Ireland as it would deny them civil and religious liberties.
Ø 5) A Unionist government should defend Protestants from internal threats – disloyal and treacherous Catholics – they should be kept weak and powerless to neutralise the threat that they pose to the state.
THE APPRENTICE BOYS’
} Formed in 1813 – 14 Derrymen.
} More formed in Derry and elsewhere in the following years.
} Took over the annual celebrations of the siege of Derry in 1824.
} They commemorate the events of the siege of Derry of 1689.
THE SIEGE OF DERRY
} King James the second became King of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in 1685.
} The official religion of these countries was Protestantism and James was a Catholic.
} There had been many religious conflicts in these countries and all through Europe over the last 150 years.
} Protestants were very worried that James would prefer and promote Catholics and they would lose power and influence and freedoms.
} Protestants in Ireland were very worried that the land and power that had been taken from the majority Catholic population and given to them would now be taken back and they would be forced out of Ireland.
} When James started to get stronger and stronger English nobles became alarmed and invited to Dutch King William (who was married to James’s eldest daughter Mary) to invade England and take the throne.
} When William landed with a big army James fled to France ( A catholic country and the most powerful country in the world at the time)
} King Louis of France was fighting William and other Protestant Kings at the time and hoped that James would take back control of England so that England would not help and support William.
} He convinced James to go to Ireland with a French army to join with the Catholic Irish. When they had control of Ireland they could use it as a springboard to attack and reclaim Britain from William.
} James landed in Kinsale in March 1688 and he as he marched up to Dublin there was wild excitement among Catholics who hoped a victory for James would mean they would get their land and power back.
} Protestants in Ireland (who were concentrated in the North after the plantation of Ulster – 1607) were terrified they would be killed or driven out of Ireland. They feared the plantation settlement would be overturned.
} They were defeated in some battles and retreated to the stronghold of Derry.
} On the 18th of December the army of King James approached Derry and demanded entrance.
} They were crossing the waterside and while the city leaders were debating what to do 13 apprentice boys grabbed the city keys and with shouts of “no surrender” they locked the city gates.
} A long siege followed and the Jacobites did not have cannons that were powerful enough to breach the city walls.
} There was very little food and starvation and disease killed many thousands in the city.
} Col. Robert Lundy who was in charge of the defence of the city spoke of surrender and was replaced as commander by George Walker. Lundy was expelled from the city as a traitor to the cause.
} The French placed long logs chained together across the river Foyle to stop ships from sailing to and from Derry.
} After 105 days of siege on the 12th of August 1689 ships from England arrived and one of them the “Mountjoy” burst through the boom across the river and sailed into Derry with supplies and troops.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SIEGE FOR UNIONISTS
} It crystallises for Unionists the sense of themselves on the island of Ireland. It is the perfect example of how they feel under threat from the Catholic majority and it encourages and celebrates resistance, defiance and a determination not to surrender.
} It is remembered to reinforce resolve and unity among Unionists in the face of the unchanging threat of Nationalists and Catholics.
} It is also a celebration of a victory over a Catholic army that secured Protestant power and control in Ireland for centuries.
} It was a time when the Protestant settlement in Ireland could have been ended and it reminds Protestant Unionists that they should stay strong and firm and fear and resist the Catholic/ Gaelic majority in Ireland.
} It reminds Protestant Unionists is that they must be constantly on the alert for the traitor within who wants to compromise, deal with or give in to their enemies.
PROBLEMS WITH COMMEMORATING THE SIEGE IN THIS WAY
} It forces people to think of the relationship between Catholics and Protestants in purely hostile and adversarial terms. It divides the people in sectarian terms.
} While it celebrates a victory for Protestants the same event led to defeat for Catholics. In this way it tells Protestants that to feel safe they must always win over and fear Catholics.
} The celebrations were often accompanied with insulting anti-Catholic songs and displays.
THE CELEBRATIONS
} There are two main events, one on the 18th of December and one on the 12th of August.
} They celebrate the closing of the gates on the 18th of December and the relief of the city and the ending of the siege on the 12th of August.
} The city is decorated in crimson flags and bunting during the celebrations.
On the 18th they re-enact the events of the day in 1688 and at the end they burn an effigy of Robert Lundy as an expression of their determination never to give in or surrender.
} On the 12th of August they gather at the Mall overlooking the Bogside. After a service at the Protestant Cathedral they march around the city walls with bands playing music. They are dressed up wearing sashes and they carry banners from their various Apprentice Boys’ clubs. The day ends with a service in the Cathedral.
The Battle of the Bogside – 12th August-15th August 1969
} The Apprentice Boys march in August 1969 was the spark that led to the Battle of the Bogside.
} There had been tension between the RUC and the people of the bogside since the march in October 1968 had been attacked. This had got worse after the People’s Democracy march had been attacked in January 1969 and the RUC had barged into people’s houses that night and( free Derry) …….Also Seamus Devenney and his family had been beaten when the RUC broke into his house.
} Many civil rights organisers were worried that trouble would break out and tried to have the march called off. The Apprentice boys saw their march as traditional and as central to Protestant identity and they refused to call it off.
} There were warnings that if the RUC went into the Bogside that the people would defend themselves. Some people in the Bogside thought the march would be used as an excuse to break into the Bogside and teach the people of the Bogside a lesson.
} When some Catholic youths threw stones at the RUC they were attacked and the RUC tried to break past the barricades that had been built around the bogside. Riots lasted for three days. Milk bottles were used for petrol bombs and the RUC used CS gas. Eventually the British Army was sent in to restore order and replace the RUC.
Towards Agreement after the Battle of the Bogside
} In 1970 and 1971 the Apprentice boys parade was not allowed out of the Protestant Waterside area of the city.
} In 1973 the IRA blew up the statue of George Walker.
} A Parades Commission was set up to make decisions on controversial parades and where and how they could march.
} The commission asked the Apprentice Boys to talk to Nationalist residents in order to reach agreement.
} The Apprentice Boys’ refused and the march remained a problem in the city.
} In 1989 the Nationalists were in control of the Derry City Council.
} It was also the tercentenary (300 years) of the siege of Derry.
} In a gesture of goodwill the council gave its support to the organisation of the ceremonies.
} In 1995 the Apprentice Boys were allowed by the city council to march around the city walls again.
} The ceremonies no longer had any place for insulting songs or coin throwing.