Orange Order criticises ‘divisive’ media coverage of Twelfth celebrations

The Orange Order said the media has not properly reflected that tens of thousands of people had enjoyed positive celebrations around the Twelfth.

THE Orange Order have accused the media of “bile and intolerance” when reporting events surrounding this year’s Twelfth celebrations.

A statement issued on Monday said that “with no bad news to report” after tens of thousands enjoyed events held in 18 venues, local media instead resorted to “churning out a daily diet of inaccurate, sensationalist and divisive commentary.”

The statement referenced coverage from this paper and from other local outlets including the BBC and the Belfast Telegraph.

Questioning an absence of “hate filled commentary on nationalism,” the Orange Order again raised changes to the BBC’s coverage of the Twelfth – which had changed towards an evening highlights programme instead of live programming.

Orange Order members open the gates to the Belfast Orange Hall on Clifton Street in Belfast ahead of their parade (Liam McBurney/PA)

The statement said this coincided with “increasing coverage of Gaelic Games and Irish language output.”

The recent cancellation of a cross-community sports camp at a cricket club in Comber was highlighted, where the organisers cancelled the event following local concerns about children from East Belfast GAA attending.

While the Goldsprings Orange Lodge in Comber had objected to the plans in a statement, they later clarified that North Down Cricket Club had already taken the decision to cancel the event.

The Orange Order said the collective media criticism of Goldsprings had been excessive after they had objected to “the fact that the GAA is a political organisation with elements having links to Republican terrorists.”

Part of the Orange Order's complaints surrounded coverage of a cancelled sports camp in Comber. PICTURE: ARTHUR ALLISON/PACEMAKER PRESS

They also said that efforts to describe Saturday’s Portrush Sons of Ulster Flute Band parade, which had coincided with crowds from The Open golf championship, as “controversial” was an attempt to “demonise the unionist community and our culture.”

“Sadly, for the media, the event was an unmitigated success, with dozens of bands from across Northern Ireland providing a musical spectacle for locals and visitors alike and drawing the largest crowd Portrush had witnessed all week,” they said.

“Unsurprisingly, the positivity around the parade will not generate multiple stories in the print media or their online channels.”

“They continued: “The Orange Institution, like any organisation expects to be scrutinised - however we also expect that scrutiny to be fair, accurate and professional.”

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