Grand Lodge leaders planning event to showcase Orange Order
THE Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is planning a publicity event to “Showcase the Order”.
The event, to take place in Glasgow next month, will feature guest speakers and an exhibition detailing the work of the Orange Order.
The event called ‘Unpeeling the Orange’ will promote the Orange Order to the public at a city hotel on September.
The Orange Order has struggled with a negative image and opposition to its parades through city streets and organisers have claimed people are largely ignorant of the Order’s traditions and community and charity work.
The event comes after a summer of controversy surrounding Orange parades in Glasgow.
Last week, the Orange Order criticised Glasgow City Council for a Public Processions Committee decision to impose a re-routing of a parade in the East End to avoid passing a church where a previous incident is alleged to have taken place.
The local lodge then withdrew the application to march altogther.
It said the council was creating “no-go zones based on religion” and members were “persecuted”.
The council asked the Order to alter a route of a parade due to take place last Saturday to avoid St Alphonsus’ church in Calton, but it refused.
The parade was re-scheduled from July when it was postponed following the allegations of an attack on a priest outside during the annual County Grand Orange said it being Order to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne.
Invitations to the Unpeeling the Orange event sate it will “feature static exhibitions and a rolling programme of guest speakers”.
The event will take place during the day from 10m until 4pm on a Saturday.
The invite says: “We’ll be showcasing the Order at a major public event.”
Three years ago, the Orange Order staged an john.mcnee@ newsquest. co.uk
0141 435 8828 ‘Orangefest’ in George Square to celebrate the organisation’s history and culture.
It did not repeat the event in subsequent years following social media protests, and instead the Order said it would focus on smaller indoor events throughout the year.
The Evening Times offered the Grand Orange Lodge the opportunity to comment on the event but no-one took up the offer.