'The Twelfth' Celebrations in Northern Ireland, 1976

The Orange celebrations in Ulster begin on 1st July when many parades take place to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and culminate in the spectacular parades of the ‘Twelfth Day’.
The Twelfth celebrations are characterised first and foremost by their colour, music and vitality. However for many the deep-rooted tradition behind the festivities are overshadowed by the political element. To correct the balance, ‘The Sash My Father Wore’ takes a sympathetic view of the July celebrations. There is no analysis, just a commentary from lifelong Orange Order members Joe Gibson and Billy McKeon.
Billy McKeon believes life is too short for sectarianism. For thirty years he worked in Belfast as a bus driver in the predominantly nationalist Short Strand Depot where his Roman Catholic colleagues christened him ‘Orange Billy’. He had to ask a Catholic for time off on the Twelfth, but this was never a problem.
McKeon would have loved to been a great musician. He competed on the pipe in the All Ireland Contest and has played in Dublin and Howth with pipe bands. As he sees it, the very existence of a band in Northern Ireland is primarily to take part in the Twelfth demonstration or any other Orange demonstrations.
Speaking as an Ulster man, I must confess that I know all the Orange tunes, and the Twelfth of July wouldn’t be the Twelfth of July if I didn’t hear ‘The Sash’ and ‘Dolly’s Ring’ and one or two others.
‘The Sash My Father Wore’ was first broadcast on 12 July 1976. The producer is Joe Mulholland.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

The world needed many more people like brave and true 'Orange Billy, a man who was not bitter or twisted, not a man who needed no enemies, all people are his friends , if i had met Orange Billy during my journey through life we would be friends

[@fintanmccann1128]

As an Irishman myself, God bless this channel. I am indebted for the ability to learn from those directly who hold opinions that separate us.

[@gerardjames9971]

What a decent thoughtful chap 'Orange Billy' was, rejecting sectarianism. If only more Unionists were like him.

[@gerardjames9971]

You obviously can't read. Also, stop shouting

[@raftonpounder6696]

Do you not see the irony of your statement? Bigot.

[@666mrdoctor]

Amen.

[@120mmsmoothbore2]

​@@ChristianPatriarchyHe rejected sectarianism, if you listened to a word he said you'd know the answer to your question.

[@gerryenglish3122]

Brilliant CR, you struck gold again, Orange gold 😎👍

[@GlennFiddles]

Starting at 40 sec, there's some very fine ballad signing. Anyone know who the singer is? Nice upload.

[@bruceleroyhoffman]

Wear Orange 🧡

[@saoirse32anois]

What happened to the full doc you had from the 60s in the North?

[@brendanoreilly1]

Feed the Poor with patriotism so they forget the problems we gave them.

[@jamescornflake1542]

I like Fanta)

[@FionanUaMurchadha]

I think the 12th could become a symbolic celebration by all the people of Ireland as a mutual recognition that our past happened and that even though event on July 1st 1690 led to 300 years of exclusively Protestant minority controlled Ireland all that has to change is take out the sick dominant Protestant mindset, sectarianism and exclusively British paraphernalia (to be clear tha doesnt mean give up Unionists people seeing it as a flag they respect but if it becomes British were british only instead of acknowledging any Irishness now diesnt mean tricolors too you can use mutally acectable Irish symbols e.g Harp and Hand of Ulster). What throws people off even those who are born Catholic with Unionist ancestry such as me, the mindest and acting like you are the chosen people makes us despise the 12th which if 12th was done differently i'd go out and celebrate it

[@MiloManning05]

No

[@FionanUaMurchadha]

@fjvvcfchhh1300 you think you're the chosen people? If so why are you a minority?

[@MiloManning05]

@@FionanUaMurchadha we were sent by god to teach you alien subhumans a lesson

[@jamiecullen9075]

@@FionanUaMurchadhaIt would depend how people down the south would take it. Some won’t care but some would be hardline against it as I can imagine the majority would

[@tjclarke1892]

The problem with the Twelfth for everyone outside of it is the Twelfth itself. It's a sign of Ulster Protestantism and Loyalism and a sign of a separate nation existing in Ireland. Irish Nationalism and Republicanism deny that at every turn, they'll acknowledge 3 different nations on the Island of Britain, but 1 is where they draw the line in Ireland. They see the Tweltfh and all things of Ulster Protestant identity as serving no purpose other than to divide "misled" irishmen from the Irish nation and that if they can just get rid of the "phony" idea of an Ulster nation then everyone will become good rebel song singing irishmen. You mention not exclusively british paraphernalia, in past that was absolutely true and many in the Ulster Protestant nation viewed themselves as Irish and British. Over time when nationalists and Republicans attacked that separate identity they moved away from their irishness, in a way becoming more and more exclusive to "defend itself". All the sectarianism and supposed anti irishness that occurs or is associated with it is not a fundamental part but a product of a sad siege mentality, where the need to make it as distinct and as far from irishness as possible comes from being called "not british" " seen as nothing more than paddys". An example of this is the recent Irish language act, a higher up in the Orange Order stated opposition to it (distancing itself from irishness to try and make itself as distinct as possible to put beyond any doubt that they are not just simply irish) which a lot of members didn't agree with him, hell in the 1900s a County Grand Master was a member of the Gaelic League ( Irish language revival) and up until the troubles there was an Orange lodge with an irish name that tried to promote irish among its community. When Irishness became about wanting separation from Britain and a free state, Ulster Protestant irishness began to wane. And then it only sped up when Republicans began attacking their identity saying "your not british" "your just another paddy". For a future United Ireland I'd say constitutional recognition of a seperate Ulster nation ( no not a community) would be a great step in the right direction, actively recognising that identity beyond any ambiguity. In short, Orangeism and the Twelfth isn't exclusively british and never can or will be, hell british isn't even an identity of its own, it needs paired with something, (scottish and british, english and british, Welsh british). In past the Unionist community would've said they were Irish and British. But being irish means more than just being irish now, and when those who are irish attack your identity and say your part of them and to give up, then you will see everything they do as an attack on you. The problem with the Twelfth and all associated with it is the Siege Mentality that enforces exclusivity in order to protect its identity against those it sees as trying to destroy it and hostility against the outside "enemy". Edit: also harps and red hands are already used a lot, plenty of banners have what would be considered cross community used symbols. Also a lot of what you describe your experience of the Twelfth being is linked to area, I'd never step foot at the Belfast Twelfth. Rural Twelfths are simply a family day out celebrating identity and heritage, no on is sitting thinking " oh yes we are a chosen people and are so superior".