This year things were done very differently but traditions were kept alive by Killycoogan Rising Sons ILOL No. 48 as they organised a socially distanced parade from their hall this morning. With numbers limited to adhere to regulations they were able to parade as is their tradition along the Blackstone Road allowing spectators to watch from their gardens and houses.

With Killycoogan Accordian Band leading them, in their first parade of the year it was a welcome sight for young and old. The tradition of opening a lodge and then parading is one that goes back centuries and even in times of war it has been upheld. It was down to the good planning and ability of the Officers of Killycoogan to be able to apply for a parade and organise it safely in record time. The route was up the Blackstone Road and back to the hall. Normally this road sees three lodges on a Twelfth Day with another parading from their hall just a fee hundred years away on the main Townhill Road.

The Blackstone Road hold the record for the number of Orange Halls in such close proximity. As you drive from Portglenone, just before turning up the Blackstone Road the first hall you pass is Killycoogan, then as soon as you turn onto the Blackstone Road Killycoogan Independent’s purpose build hall greets you. The largest purpose built hall it is also the newest, and has a considerable carpark front and rear. Then a few hundred yards up the road is McNeillstown Independent Orange Hall built in 1910 and under renovation at present to house a community museum and space. It was built as a new hall after the split when the Independents were denied use of what is now called the ‘Old Hall’. It sits in the Hall Lane leading to the Wilkinson farm. Then passing a Mission Hall we reach McNeillstown Orange Hall at the top of the road in what used to be Maboy School.

So when you are travelling this road you would be forgiven for thinking you are seeing double, two Killycoogans and two McNeillstowns but they all still exist and the halls are in use. It is a legacy of the 1903 spit and while divisions are not as acrimonious as they once were there is still a healthy rivalry.  The same goes for the musical tradition with the two Killycoogans choosing the Accordian, McNeillstown ‘old order’ developing from a flute to an award winning Pipe Band and McNeillstown Independent moving from lambegs to a flute band and now back to the lambeg.

This year however despite the number of lodges and bands it was only Killycoogan Independent lodge and band which were on parade. The decision by the Grand Lodge of Ireland not to hold any Twelfth parades forced their lodges to stay at home. The two Independents were both represented on parade this Twelfth as well as McNeillstown’s Museum Team being involved in the development of the Virtual Twelfth.

 

Family Fun

One thing with allowed the safe organisation of the Twelfth was the fact that the Independents are very much a family affair with sons following in their father footsteps. Many a lifelong commitment to the Orange Order begins with carrying the strings of the banner as a child. Many Orangemen and women have walked at the Twelfth since they were able to walk, although for some in these early years they often get carried as far as they walk!

Being able to ensure that people attending or watching staled in their family units ensured a safe fun day for all. It is great to see families and young people coming along and passing on this celebration to the next generation.

Other safe socially distanced events were held locally with Drums at Drumraw and the pipes heard at Finvoy.