Today, the traditional Orange Marches in Northern Ireland reach a climax. Large groups of protesters take part in parades for the so-called Orangemen’s Day. A colorful march with bowler hats, drums and flutes. It looks cheerful, but the banners and banners are full of controversial symbols and political slogans.
The parades are part of Northern Ireland’s traditional July celebrations, with which pro-British unionists commemorate the 1690 Protestant King William III of Orange defeated Catholic King James II. The celebrations are meant to show that Protestantism still exists and are considered an expression of Protestant culture and identity. But many Catholics in Northern Ireland find the festival provocative.
More than 200 bonfires and protest fires were lit over the weekend. Irish flags were also burned in some places.
Brexit tensions
Almost every year, the parades lead to tensions between Protestant unionists, who want Northern Ireland to stay with the United Kingdom, and Catholic Republicans, who support a united Ireland.
There’s a lot more going on in the background this year. There is growing frustration about the Brexit protocol. Northern Ireland protesters feel cheated by British Prime Minister Johnson, who promised there would be no customs border in the Irish Sea.
But it came anyway. In practice, the Brexit trade deal is increasingly cutting Northern Ireland off from the United Kingdom. And that is an issue that touches the heart of Protestant identity.
Political instability
The frustration over Brexit is not only aimed at the British government in London, but also at the largest unionist political party, the DUP, which heads the Northern Ireland government. This Protestant party has been accused of failing to overcome trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. There is a feeling that Northern Ireland has been ‘sacrificed’ so that politicians could push through a Brexit deal with the EU.
The dwindling support for the DUP is fueling new political instability in Northern Ireland. Two party leaders have resigned in recent months.
unrest
The lack of trust in political leaders and the feeling of being ‘betrayed’ are reviving the old rivalry between Protestants and Catholics. Riots broke out in April, with rocks and Molotov cocktails flying back and forth over the so-called ‘peace wall’ in Belfast. More than fifty officers were injured.
The unrest in the streets reminded many of the so-called Troubles, the civil war that gripped Northern Ireland for decades and claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Postponement
In recent months, Northern Irish people have regularly protested the Brexit protocol and the trade border in the Irish Sea. Meanwhile, the UK and the EU are in disagreement on exactly how that protocol, and the associated customs duties, should be implemented. Time and again, the implementation of the protocol is delayed, leaving Northern Ireland in limbo and tensions continuing.
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