Band and Orangemen on parade, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Band and Orangemen on parade, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Shankill Rangers girls marching band and Orangemen on parade in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with the City Hall in the background. Date: 1969
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14344083
© Mary Evans Picture Library/DAVID LEWIS HODGSON
1969 Belfast Division Marching Orangeman Orangemen Parade Protestant Protestantism Roadway Sectarian Tradition Troubles
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the deep-rooted traditions and complex political tensions of Belfast, Northern Ireland during the tumultuous year of 1969. The scene unfolds on a bustling city street, where the Shankill Rangers girls marching band, dressed in their uniforms of navy blue and white, lead the way. Behind them, Orangemen in their distinctive orange sashes and bowler hats follow, their faces set with determination and pride. The City Hall, a symbol of civic authority, looms in the background, adding a sense of institutional weight to the proceedings. The parade, a long-standing tradition in Northern Irish Protestant culture, was a source of both pride and controversy. The Orangemen commemorated the signing of the Covenant of 1691, a pledge of loyalty to Protestant rule in Ireland. However, the annual marches were also a potent symbol of sectarian division, fueling tensions between Protestant and Catholic communities. The year 1969 marked a turning point in the history of Northern Ireland, as the simmering political and religious tensions erupted into widespread violence known as the Troubles. This photograph offers a poignant snapshot of a time when the streets of Belfast were a battleground for political and ideological beliefs, and the divisions between Protestant and Catholic communities seemed insurmountable. Despite the challenges of the past, the traditions and customs depicted in this image continue to resonate with the people of Northern Ireland, serving as a reminder of the region's complex history and enduring sense of identity.
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