Emma DeSouza: There's no 'gotcha' in Heather's Orange Order connections

The challenge for Heather Humphreys is not her family's history, but how she handled the question of her husband’s prior membership of the Orange Order, writes Emma DeSouza

(Left to right) Heather Humphreys' husband Eric, Heather Humphries, her grandson Arthur, her daughter Eva, her grand daughter Charlotte, and Charlotte's husband Sean. File photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Heather Humphreys’ presidential campaign launch took an unexpected and somewhat bizarre turn when news that her husband was a member of the Orange Order half a century ago was splashed across newspaper front pages, with the tacit suggestion that the revelation was somehow consequential to her bid for office.

While a large proportion of its membership can be found in Northern Ireland, the Orange Order has been in operation across the island of Ireland since 1795 with members in border counties such as Monaghan and Donegal, hosting 20 Orange Order events in the Republic each year.