Banners in Northern Ireland
banner significant part culture northern ireland particularly protestantunionist community one region prominent type folk art typically carried parade held twelfth july saint patrick day time throughout year generally organised society orange order ancient order hibernians royal black institution apprentice boy derry banner typically commissioned represent lodge within one society banner also carried trade union church group marching band banner painted professional executed silk although canvas popular material past painting side usually depicting different subject name number lodge banner one subject per side surrounded flourish scroll decoration despite many way sectarian art form catholic protestant banner usually similar term style composition apart subject matter main difference colour orange order banner make heavy use colour orange lesser extent red white blue purple catholic banner tend feature lot green possibly significance banner northern irish culture operational name british army campaign northern ireland trouble operation banner banner institution better known orange order depict range subject best grouped historical religious memorial local british banner fit one category far common subject orange banner art william iii england whose victory battle boyne celebrated twelfth july biggest orange celebration william shown least one side orange banner usually crossing boyne river sometimes battle arriving england ireland belfast head shoulder portrait form junior orange lodge banner sometimes shown child banner painting william crossing boyne often based directly indirectly painting benjamin west scene williamite war glorious revolution may also depicted include siege derry particularly shutting gate relief city portrait williamite commander duke schomberg banner relate history order subject include dan winter cottage order founded william johnston ballykilbeg nineteenth century defied law orange march others relate home rule crisis depict scene signing ulster covenant portrait unionist leader edward carson another popular period world war particular battle somme many ulster men lost life miscellaneous historical topic depicted orange banner include world war ii b special oliver cromwell religious topic much less common orange banner many society common religious banner type second common type overall crown bible express commitment order british monarch strict condition monarch protestant exactly catholic british law monarch cannot catholic married catholic result glorious revolution william iii took crown catholic james ii orangeman tend see patriotism commitment protestantism inextricably interlinked biblical story sometimes depicted orange banner figure clinging large cross often tiny island raging sea historical banner also religious depict protestant martyr scottish solway firth martyr key figure reformation martin luther john calvin banner sometimes used commemorate deceased lodge member often men little known outside lodge circle particularly killed trouble member particularly well regarded name lodge may changed commemorate member typically shown marching gear banner thus provides way continue marching lodge number historical banner also act memorial example carson queen victoria important figure orange ulster history figure williamite war occasionally recently deceased nonmember depicted earl mountbatten burma killed provisional irish republican army number banner depicting battle somme act memorial especially banner belonging war memorial lodge others show war memorial northern ireland elsewhere law order forbid depiction living person british monarch lodge banner less common banner theme purely local subject map northern ireland local landmark scene local industry symbol northern ireland red hand ulster landmark depicted often religious historical connotation example church site historical event industrial scene often seem mean anything connection member lodge although may symbolic protestant work ethic ulster symbol flag commonly found bannerettes decoration around main subject banner subject right small number banner show british imperial subject two popular probably britannia allegorical figure representing britain queen victoria handing bible nonwhite usually indian prince chieftain second scene sometimes captioned secret britain greatness secret britain might image intended convey might british empire based protestant faith british scene much less common past due partly decline british empire mostly widespread sense betrayal recent british government policy northern ireland however union flag still commonly found decoration around main subject crown common motif majority institution banner depict biblical story although significant minority show deceased member lodge banner acting memorial craft symbol little meaning outside institution occasionally subject black banner local landmark historical figure accessible symbol crown cross according anthony buckley majority bible story shown black banner old testament one following theme godly person people living amongst stranger sinner foreign land reward faithfulness story act analogy history position protestant ireland new testament theme loving one enemy rarely expressed bible story shown banner include adam eve noah ark elijah ruth naomi scene life jesus apprentice boy organisation exists remember siege derry consequently banner show scene siege portrait hero however topic shown orange banner also appear apprentice banner particularly memorial portrait deceased member ancient order hibernians conservative catholic nationalist organisation banner feature religious image saint especially saint patrick virgin mary pope especially john paul ii first pope visit ireland banner feature symbol irish nationalism hibernia irish round tower cláirseach historical advocate constitutional nationalism daniel oconnell irish national forester constitutional nationalist organisation open irish people denomination forester banner typically depict various irish symbol famous nationalist banner exist merely add colour parade rather several level meaning basic level topic show allegiance person carrying banner depicting daniel oconnell express belief irish nationalism one queen victoria edward carson show desire remain part united kingdom likewise banner virgin mary martin luther signify catholicism protestantism many banner relate division northern irish society protestantsulster scotsunionistsloyalists one side catholicsirishnationalists republican example william iii victory james ii williamite war led two century protestant ascendency ireland depiction william siege derry forth thus express belief good thing many banner ostensibly pro one group rather anti generally taken mean – often mean – opposition side example bible protestant banner usually simply assertion bible good thing also attack catholicism seen overly dependent priest ignorant word god many banner also allegorical several member orange order argued historical banner actually metaphor religious principle former grand master w martin smyth said siege derry seen symbolising eternal conflict good evil way apprentice derry shut gate city james army despite possible dire consequence righteous people god bidding even dangerous trust god save relief derry seen symbolic god mercy willingness save sinner trust likewise depiction britannia merely assertion britishness also statement britain great strong protestantism fallen recent decade godlessness banner type carried northern irish parade much common part united kingdom particular trade union banner similar due perhaps decline british heavy industry general fading many working class tradition banner commonly seen event durham miner gala parade northern ireland