Orangeism : The Making of a Tradition Book

The first definitive history of the Orange Order Events over the past four years centred around the Drumcree Parish Church and the Garvaghy Road have focused world-wide attention on the Orange Order and the Loyal orders in general. Taking its name from the historic figure William of Orange the Orange Order has become, in the eyes of many, synonymous with bigotry and triumphalism. Much of the history of the Order remains untold and unexplored. Now in this major study of the history of Orangeism-the culmination of five years of research-Kevin Haddick-Flynn presents the reader with a comprehensive and definitive account of the Order from its foundation in the 17th century through centuries of growth and conflict and brings us right up to the present day and the turmoil of recent years culminating in the schism in the order in the wake of the murder of the three Quinn brothers in the Summer of 1998. Issues which he examines include the origins of the order, Ireland before and after William, the creation of the first Orange Societies in Ireland, the links between Orangeism and Freemasonry, the growth of the Orange Order outside of Ireland, the role of this "non-political" society in the politics of the state, Orangeism in the 20th Century and there is a particular focus later in the book on the events of the last four years in Northern Ireland. Over the course of thirty chapters he examines every aspect of the order in this first complete examination of this institution of Protestantism and he has produced an unbiased, journalistic account of the Order.Read More