Orange order aims to open lodges across Republic

TODAY may be July 12 but the only Orange march in the Republic has already taken place — and the organisation aims to open lodges as far south as Bandon in west Cork.

About 6,000 members of the Orange Institution — better known as the Orange Order — attended an annual parade in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal on Saturday. Members of some 45 Orange lodges from the Republic took part.

The participants were from lodges based in the border counties of Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Donegal but also included members of the Dublin and Wicklow Loyal Orange Lodge 1313 and some visitors from the North.