Varadkar becomes first Irish premier to visit Grand Orange Lodge
TAOISEACH LEO Varadkar said he wanted to be viewed in Northern Ireland as a neighbour not an invader, as he made a symbolic visit to the headquarters of the Orange Order in Belfast.
Mr Varadkar received a warm welcome for his tour of the Museum of Orange Heritage at Schomberg House in a staunchly unionist part of the city, with locals applauding him on arrival and departure.
As he became the first Irish premier to visit the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland’s HQ, the Taoiseach said he hoped to forge better relations with the Orange Order, and move on from past tensions between the organisation and the Irish state.
“I believe that Protestant heritage, Protestant history, Orange heritage, is part of our shared history,” he said. “It’s not just something that is about Northern Ireland – it’s something that applies in all parts of Ireland and very often we can be too binary. Things are never as simple as north versus south or orange versus green – our history is very complex.”
After his visit, Mr Varadkar was asked about fraying relations with unionist politicians over Brexit, a cooling that has seen him accused of aggressive tactics and bad manners by the Democratic Unionists.
“My mother brought me up to have very good manners so I hope people don’t think I am ill mannerly at all,” he replied.
“When I come north I see myself as a neighbour not as an invader, as the head of government of another jurisdiction.”
He added: “What I am trying to do on this trip is to reach out to all communities in Northern Ireland to understand their needs and perspectives better and try to cement relationships that I think we can build on in the future.”