We’re ready for talks, says top Orangeman
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Print
Email
THE leader of Portadown’s Orangemen said last night that the way was now open for face-to-face talks with Garvaghy Road nationalists after both sides met separately with First Minister Peter Robinson at Stormont Castle to discuss the Drumcree parade dispute.
Darryl Hewitt confirmed: “We have been seeking such talks for three years now and the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition (GRRC) has been dodging such talks. We made it clear to the First Minister that we enter such talks with no preconditions, except there must be an independent chairman.”
GRRC spokesman Breandan Mac Cionnaith was, however, sceptical about the Orangemen’s motivation. “All they ever want to discuss is the return parade via the Garvaghy Road,” he said. “They are not interested in alternative routes.
“The outward route from the centre of Portadown — via the nationalist Obins Street — was banned in the mid-1980s and they finally accepted the alternative, grudgingly I have to say. But they still apply for that route, 20 years after it was banned. That shows their real attitude.”
Both men were giving their views after Mr Robinson said he felt the talks would take place “as soon as there is enough overlap in their positions to allow a meeting to take place”, and that new Parades Commission chair Rena Shepherd could conduct the meeting.
He added: “I hope to talk with her soon. There are agenda issues that have to be sorted out, but I believe the talks will happen.”
Both sides described yesterday’s talks with Mr Robinson as “positive and very useful”, with the First Minister promising a meeting with Mrs Shepherd as soon as possible after she takes up the post on Monday week.
Mr Mac Cionnaith said: “Peter Robinson got off on the right foot immediately when he underlined he was not conducting a proxy meeting on behalf of the Orange Order, and I have to say he is very much aware of the views of both sides.
“He also seemed to accept that the coalition represents the views of the Garvaghy Road community and we found that refreshing, given that the Portadown District LOL No 1 often questions that point.
“We’ll wait and see what happens next. The fact that he isn’t an Orangeman helped things.”
Mr Mac Cionnaith was accompanied by Joe Duffy, chairman of the GRRC, who has gone on record as saying the parade issue is closed, and that the Parades Commission’s ruling on an alternative route is the only resolution.
District Orange Master Darryl Hewitt, who led a four-man delegation, insisted that the agenda was totally open “and we portrayed that to Peter Robinson”.
He added: “It was an extremely useful meeting and has given the Drumcree issue a fresh impetus — especially the setting up of a meeting with Rena Shepherd whom I met at Drumcree last Sunday for the first time”.
He added: “I want to reiterate that we have no precondition in the event of face-to-face talks and I’m not prepared to comment any further than that.”
Post a comment
Limit: 500 characters
View all comments that have been posted about this article
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by BelfastTelegraph.co.uk's Terms of Use.
Posts submitted in UPPERCASE letters will be rejected.
Comments
30 Comments
I had a great 12th this year, I left my home in old biggotted Portadown and went east to Castlewellan, I was able to drive there without having to stop to allow these biggots in bowler hats to make their hatred of all things not orange known. One thing I noticed about Castlewellan was not a flag in sight, then I drove down to the lovely seaside town of Newcastle where I was told Catholics and Prodestants live side by side in harmoney and guess what not a flag in sight, this is how it should be.
Posted by am I the only one | 13.07.09, 04:20 GMT
It sure takes a long time for the penny to drop for these folks....are they really so;-
a) ignorant?
b) arrogant?
c) stupid?
d) hatefilled?
e) blind?
make up your own mind......sheesh, I am depressed!
Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 13.07.09, 01:08 GMT
Why bother marching anyway? not got anything better to do? Oh its your history? your culture? tradition? my [bag] it is.
You lot are right about the trash being dumped in your towns, they never dump them in upper class areas, or nice middle class areas, no way, those types call you bad guys for hating them, while they sit in their comfortable homes and play the civilsed types
Posted by Hung | 13.07.09, 01:06 GMT
To Jay, exactly what is your 'culture' that has to be respected? I have been here 8 years now and still cant understand why the marching? From history the only reason why the protestants marched to celebrate the Boyne was because the English govt in the 18th century made you do it. They were scared that the protestants and catholics were in cahoots to cut themself off from the rule of the English govt - see Irish Free Society. So in effect you are celebrating the pulling of your puppet strings!
Posted by John | 13.07.09, 00:03 GMT
The OO is a sectarian organisation. You cannot join unless you agree to work towards the end of Catholiscism. The organisaion has to be banned. Please publish this comment moderator.
Posted by Andrew | 12.07.09, 23:33 GMT
u did not want to talk in the 70s 80s or early 90s when the police just blocked the catholics in there homes so u could march how times have changed the police are not your private army any more the psni has to protect all the people of the north sorry oo get over it its the 21st century
Posted by ray .. usa | 12.07.09, 17:15 GMT
ULSTER'S laws must be enforced on all. If a law is UNJUST, work through your goverment for change. NO ONE CAN BE ABOVE THE LAW. It is also time for TOTAL seperation of CHURCH & STATE for ULSTER. HELLO all COLORS of ULSTER.
Posted by phl | 12.07.09, 16:00 GMT
If the Orangemen and the Garvaghy Road nationalists only knew what the rest of the world thought of them and their continued hatred perhaps they would turn the leadership of their organizations to others or disband them altogether. I am not interested in the hatred my grandparents left Ireland for years ago. My children do not know hwta an orgeman is nor do they care about nationalists in Northern Ireland. Give peace a chance and buy your former enemies as friends a beer. Good on all!
Posted by HRHFHM | 12.07.09, 15:15 GMT
yea they want to talk, sure the nazi's spoke to the jews just before they gased them they said get in there!!! talk is cheap.
Posted by aussie | 12.07.09, 10:47 GMT
not only do you you have parades on the 12th but all summer long,
what is the purpose if these is it pure hatred?
Posted by sean | 12.07.09, 10:44 GMT
What necessity have the orangemen to walk down this particular street?
Posted by John | 12.07.09, 00:15 GMT
Do the people of Garvaghy Road know that a orange parade is enjoyable and respect their neighbours culture.Maybe,they too could enjoy the bands and build a sense of community within Northern Ireland.
Posted by jay | 11.07.09, 21:59 GMT
the only reason the garvaghy road residents will meet with the portadown orangemen is to tell them face to face that they are NOT and never will be welcome on the garvaghy road,take the hint brethern members and go and catch yourselves on. again i ask members of the protestant communities would they accept an easter sunday or hunger strike commemoration to go through their area? i very much doubt it,will be interesting to see the responses they post here to my question. come on folks -speak up!
Posted by Frank | 11.07.09, 21:37 GMT
Years ago when I was a 19 year old in college another student (of a different religion) turned to me and said, "You're not bad for a ***** (my religion). I replied, "And you're not bad for a ***** (his religion).
Having the opportunity to meet and talk we became friends.
Now how could we get members of the OO and the AOH to plan a march together so that more people could have the chance to meet? Some of them might even become friends!
Posted by alwyn | 11.07.09, 19:20 GMT
Well, well, well...the Orange Order brought to its knees. There's no place for sectarian triumphalism in the 21st century. I'm glad the OO has finally wised up. It might save a few lives.
Posted by joanna | 11.07.09, 18:13 GMT
cliff what is there to talk about, the summer season in the north is spoilt year in year out by these so called religious parades, we the normal people who just want to live normal lives have to put up with low lives putting up flags in our villages against the will of the majority of people, I mean look what happen recently when some one objected, shots were fired into their house, I am not green I am not orange, I am a normal person who is sick to death with all of this nonsence.
Posted by sean | 11.07.09, 17:56 GMT
Why do they need "face to face" talks to be told once again their sectarian orange march; is not, and never has been welcome? Why not march, up,down, around area's they know they are loved welcome and give their supporters something to applaud and cheer on.
Posted by USA | 11.07.09, 17:46 GMT
What if we got them a few minbuses, would save them lots of walking.
Posted by Davros | 11.07.09, 17:32 GMT
Only in Northern Ireland are law abiding citizens prevented from peaceful demonstrations on public highways.
It is only a matter of time until the local demographic changes and the parade will rightfully proceed.
Posted by tommy hall | 11.07.09, 16:28 GMT
Why should the mainly Catholic Garvaghy Road accept an association that have a rule of no Catholics in membership and indeed no members allowed in a Catholic Chapel? There's no point in the Orange Order coming across all reasonable now. Walk back the way you walk to Drumcree and you wont be annoying anyone!!
Posted by Colly | 11.07.09, 16:28 GMT
30 Comments