[A-List] Northern Ireland: comedy central

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Loyalist marches 'like Mardi Gras'

JOHN INNES
The Scotsman, 5 June 2003

TOURISM leaders in Northern Ireland have been urged to market the Protestant
Orange Order's Battle of the Boyne celebrations like the Mardi Gras in New
Orleans or France's Bastille Day.

Alex Easton, of the Democratic Unionist Party, insisted the summer-marching
season - involving parades by the Orange Order, Black Preceptory and
Apprentice Boys - should be marketed in a more positive light to
international visitors.

The North Down councillor argued: "The events surrounding the months of July
and August, when all three of the Loyal Orders hold their main
demonstrations, should be viewed as part of the rich cultural tapestry of
this part of the United Kingdom."

Mr Easton claimed the image of the marching season had been tarnished by
nationalist residents' groups, which opposed parades.

Their tactics, he alleged, had meant the summer-marching season was
associated with disturbances and unpleasantness.

As a result, many people in Northern Ireland and abroad had "developed the
wrong impression about parades and other legitimate expressions of Orange or
Protestant culture".

"As is often the case, education equates to greater levels of understanding.

"A positive, pro-active and concerted marketing campaign by bodies such as
the Northern Ireland Tourist Board would increase people's understanding of
what the marching season is all about and how they can enjoy the cultural
heritage which it represents.

"New Orleans has its Mardi Gras and France has Bastille Day."

However, a nationalist SDLP councillor ridiculed Mr Easton's suggestion.

John Dallat, of Coleraine, argued that as they continued to ignore the
Parades Commission and the views of residents, "the Orange Order might as
well be fitting handbrakes to canoes as to market a product which is flawed
and incapable of being sold as an expression of culture and heritage".

He said: "Many parades don't have the consent or approval of the wider
community."