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Robinson set to hold Drumcree talks

By Victor Gordon
Friday, 10 July 2009

Orangemen On The Garvaghy Road, July 2000

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The two sides in the Drumcree dispute are meeting First Minister Peter Robinson this morning in the latest bid to come up with a solution to the long-running parades dispute.

The Portadown Orange District and Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition (GRRC) will hold separate talks with Mr Robinson at Stormont Castle, following last Sunday’s abortive attempt by Orangemen to return from Drumcree by their traditional route.

The last time they walked the Garvaghy Road was in 1997.

Darryl Hewitt, District Master of Portadown LOL No 1, will lead the Orange delegation and Breandan Mac Cionnaith will head the GRRC group.

“It’s significant, for a start, that the GRRC is meeting Peter Robinson on his own patch at Stormont Castle,” Mr Hewitt said.

“We’re taking it one step at a time and we simply want face-to-face talks with Brendan McKenna and company, without preconditions.

“Dialogue is the only way to resolve this issue and talks with the First Minister must be a good next step. I met with the new NI Parades Commission chairman (Rena Shepherd) at Drumcree on Sunday and she too agrees that dialogue is essential.”

However, Mr Mac Cionnaith was less positive.

“As far as we are concerned, we are meeting Peter Robinson in his role as DUP leader,” he said.

“The deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness must sanction such talks with the First Minister and that hasn’t been done. But I have to say it’s refreshing that the DUP leader has, for the first time, asked to meet with us.”

GRRC chairman Joe Duffy has insisted that the issue was resolved in 1998 when the march was banned and claimed the issue was “a dead duck”.

Mr Robinson, in a recent statement, said: “I am certain we can find a way through this issue and will do all I can to progress it to a consensual conclusion. I would be equally content if the parties agreed on some other approach or arrangement that might reach an outcome that everyone in Portadown wishes to see.”

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21 Comments

Sean,

You are showing your bigotry and ignorance again.

It was proven in court that the tragic killing of the Quinn children in Ballymoney was in no way related to the OO, loyalism, sectarianism, or anything to do with the protestant community.

However, it ws convenient at the time to blame it on the Drumcree situation.

Posted by Jeff | 11.07.09, 19:17 GMT

Jeff

Really? is that the same dignity and solemnity which saw children burned to death in their own homes?

Posted by Sean | 11.07.09, 15:04 GMT

Deirdre,

I was present at the march that day. Trimble and Paisley (MPs yes, but NOT Ministers), joined the parade at Shillingtons, as the agreement reached only allowed for Portadown District members (and no bands) to walk the stretch from Drumcree bridge to Parkmount. FACT!

As in all previous years, the parade adjacent to homes along Garvaghy Road was carried out in a solemn and dignified manner, despite the sectarian abuse and physical attacks from some of the residents.

Posted by Jeff | 11.07.09, 09:36 GMT

We should encourage one and others culture. The parade should go on and all sides should embrace it.

Posted by jay | 11.07.09, 00:15 GMT

Cliff
I never denigrated the union flag

and how do you know the majority suport it? a large minority might support it perhaps even a majority but the evidence is unproven

10's of thousands may support parades but as there are 1.8 million citizens in nireland that doesnt exactly constitute a large part of the population

And since when did unionists stop attacking nationalist institutions and pouring scorn on them?

Posted by Sean | 10.07.09, 23:02 GMT

Jeff, the two (MP's actually at the time) danced from Ballyoran Park on the Garvaghy Road right to Shillingtons. Their second dance began in Carelton Street - FACT! See any news reel for evidence.
As a Catholic resident of the Garvaghy Road I am not anti Orange Order whatsoever, I just don't think this parade is worth all the hassle that goes with it. Portadown town centre is plastered in union flags from top to bottom - surely the Orange Order would enjoy parading here much more after Church

Posted by Deirdre | 10.07.09, 20:20 GMT

Why are the little comment icons beside each post orange? Shouldn't they alternate between orange and green to keep things balanced?

Posted by Mr. P | 10.07.09, 20:05 GMT

Let's be clear. The battle which is being remembered was won by the Protestant army.
Around the world, triumphant nations celebrate victories.
The Twelfth demonstrations are no different..We won.
Now We are celebrating.
Like it or not everyone in Northern Ireland will be hearing our celebration this weekend.
This we will maintain

Posted by tommy hall | 10.07.09, 19:55 GMT

Parades and more parades! Are you all aware what will happen if they allow the parades junkies to resurrect this parade back from the twentieth century force it into the twenty first century? Every year from now to eternity they will want another parade down Garvaghy Rd to commemorate it's resurrection. So you will have the two not one sectarian parade to contend with.

Posted by USA | 10.07.09, 19:21 GMT

Look this issue is over.

The Orange Order is NOT WELCOME. They cannot march down Garvaghy on their own. And the days when their buddies in the police can force them through are long gone.

March where you're wanted and leave the rest of us in peace.

Posted by gearoid | 10.07.09, 17:50 GMT

Joanna you are an idiot "marching over the rights of nationalists is the whole point of the oo" thats what you claim but the fact is that for hundreds of years these marchs went on with no fuss or bother. that was untill certain sf nationalists would get on a bus and travel 50 miles if they had to just so they could be offended.grow up get a life and realise there are 2 traditions in Ulster!!!!

Posted by Jim Bennett | 10.07.09, 17:14 GMT

no march the catholics in north of ireland where bullied for 70 yrs by these marches human& equal rights are now in place to help everybody if they dont want marches there should be no march end of story

Posted by ray .. usa | 10.07.09, 15:24 GMT

Harry Campbell,

The two "Ministers" you refer to are presumably Trimble and Paisley?

Neither were Stormont Ministers at the time of the alleged incident you describe as the GFA had not even been written then, and anyway, they did not "skip down the Garvaghy Road." The incident you refer to actually happened in Carleton Street a mile away from the Garvagy Road. But don'y let the truth get in the way of a good rant at the OO or Unionists.

As for battered residents.......catch you on!

Posted by Jeff | 10.07.09, 14:25 GMT

Sean,as usual you use a positive step forward to point score against Unionists. You don`t know that the majority of people are against parades. Consider the tens of thousands who will be enjoying a family day out on Monday watching the Twelfth. You continually try to denigrate the Union Flag which the majority in this country see as their own. How would you feel if Unionists were to continually attack Nationalist Institutions and pour scorn on them?Would you rather the British Identity was gone?

Posted by Cliff | 10.07.09, 14:05 GMT

coming from a long line of orange men, you would think i would stand by their decision to walk down the garvaghy road. however i feel this stance just hinders the image of the order even more and i feel that choosing a different route might actually present the organisation in a better light.

Posted by 4dayweekend | 10.07.09, 13:41 GMT

Not walking the Garvaghy road has been the violence free solution for a decade, lets try it for another decade

Posted by Sean | 10.07.09, 12:41 GMT

What is there to talk about? It's now 'traditional' for the parade to be banned - why can't the Orange Order respect that tradition? Noone's asked for the march to stopped altogether...just don't parade where you're not wanted, eh? It's hardly unreasonable, is it? But, then, marching over the rights of nationalists is the whole point of the Orange Order.

Posted by joanna | 10.07.09, 10:48 GMT

Having once lived in Portadown I can understand the LOL position that this is an Orange town and all things orange must be pandered to. The real defining moment of the Drumcree dispute, for a lot of people, was the sight of two Senior Ministers skipping down Garvagy Road holding hands and proving to their sectarian electorate how good Triumphalism really feels. Forget about the battered residents so long as Loyalists can show you your place.
Disgraceful then as it is repugnant now.

Posted by Harry Campbell | 10.07.09, 10:38 GMT

peter the majority of people here want an end of parades.
lets get back to being a normal society where the flying of flags is a thing of the past, where the marching in the streets is a thing of the past, i mean all parades both republican on orange, where i can have a pint with my neighbour regardless of his religion or whever he supports rangers or celtic or votes sinn fein or dup.

Posted by sean | 10.07.09, 09:18 GMT