Today marks the high point of unionist culture, or rather, that’s what it used to be. The Twelfth was the day when unionism displayed who it was and what its essence was.

It was a demonstration of political power, presence and consequence. That was at a time when every minister in the toytown colonial administration was (or if he wasn’t, he’d better join) a member of the Orange Order. Many marched in the parade. So too, did some members of the landed gentry like the earl of Erne who often provided figureheads for the order.

None of this applies any more. Business and commerce have fled the order, wouldn’t be seen dead marching behind bands hired by the tiny membership of lodges whose drums are festooned with the paraphrenia of loyalist terrorist groups.

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The order has no power. Its ageing membership is a fraction of what........

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