The Duke

Defender of the faith

[The Duke @BoyneDefender]

East Belfast on a Tuesday night

Phenomenal 👏🇬🇧

[Northern Ireland @NorthernIreland]

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝓈𝓉

Celebrating the late George Best on what would have been his 80th birthday 💚🤍 #GAWA

[Quincey Dougan @_quincey]

#OTD 22 April 1921, 53 year old Protestant and Orangeman, father of ten, John Harrison murdered by the IRA in County Leitrim. In October 1920 John Harrison had refused to pay a 'levy' demanded by local IRA men towards weapons. In response the IRA had stolen his 'best cow'

[Orange Order @OrangeOrder]

Queen Elizabeth II was born on this day 100 years ago.

The Orange Institution remembers her unstinting faith, selfless service and devotion to her subjects.

Her strong and dignified leadership was an inspiration to us all.

[Cllr Todd Ferguson @ToddFergusonNAA]

There’s an obvious double standard in how abuse of the Loyal Orange Order is treated, and it’s hard to ignore.

The sort of language that would be challenged straight away if it was aimed at other groups is far too often shrugged off in Scotland.

Personally, I’ve never been a member of the Orange Order, but I still get called an “orange bastard”. That’s not something that should just be accepted or brushed aside.

In some political circles, there’s an obvious willingness to let that kind of thing pass without comment. That only encourages more of it.

People in public office, especially those in the Scottish Parliament, should be prepared to call it out for what it is and hold the same standards across the board.

My own family history reflects an Orange tradition that is too often misrepresented by ignorant commentators.

My great-uncle, Tommy Todd, was a proud part of the Orange tradition: he bore a King Billy chest tattoo, was active in the Loyal Orange Lodge, and served as Pipe Major of the Townhead Pipe Band.

More importantly, he was a distinguished war veteran who served with courage in two world wars.

In the First World War, he served with the 1/7th Highland Light Infantry, 52nd (Lowland) Division, and was Mentioned in Despatches for ‘gallant and distinguished service in the field’ during the Second Battle of Gaza on 19th April 1917, where heavy fire, confusion, and loss of leadership left men relying on individual initiative to hold positions, carry messages, and bring in the wounded.

In the Second World War, now in the Royal Engineers, he again earned a Mention in Despatches. Official records from the Norway campaign in 1940 state:

“During the action at Kvam 23/26th April, Sapper Todd took charge of an isolated post under heavy fire. By his example and disregard for his own safety he steadied the younger men and in the eventual withdrawal kept them together when his N.C.O. had been wounded. At Otta he stayed behind on the railway bridge until the last infantry were across. He then succeeded in blowing the bridge and rejoined the section at Dombas 40 miles in the rear. During this he was under continual aerial bombardment and rifle fire.”

In a later BBC interview, he spoke with characteristic dry Scottish humour, remarking that the Germans were poor shots, noting an untouched jewellery shop as evidence of discipline among British troops, and recalling with horror that he never received his rum ration during the campaign.

Stories like his reflect values of service, discipline, and loyalty from Orangemen that deserve to be understood rather than caricatured and debased.

I will continue to speak openly about this.

I’m proud of where I come from, and of those who came before me. 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

#LestWeForget

[Moore Holmes @mooreholmes24]

Two very different celebrations within Northern Ireland today.

The first picture shows Nationalist youth celebrating the Easter Rising.

The second picture shows young Loyalists celebrating their culture and identity at the Apprentice Boys of Derry parade.

Draw your own conclusions.

[Orange Order @OrangeOrder]

🟠 Orange Invitation Day – Let’s Grow Together

Our Orange family is growing — and we want to keep that momentum going.

Every day is an opportunity to bring new members into the Institution, but on Sunday 19th April, we’re asking everyone to make a special effort.

[Sarah White @advancesarah]

I’ve spent a lot of time recently in Northern Ireland, and the patriotism here is something else.

Watching the bands today of the apprentice boys in Ballymoney was incredibly moving, every beat of the drum carried pride, passion, and a deep sense of loyalty. Loyalty to their culture, their heritage, their history, and to this great land.

You can feel it in the atmosphere, in the people, in the way they stand and represent who they are.

It makes you think… England could learn a lot from the men and women of Ulster.

[Tristan Morrow 🇬🇧☘️ @TrisBurnedLands]

Flags are going up in Ballymoney.
I love patriotism 😁🇬🇧☘️

[Knights Templar International @KnightsTempOrg]

British Protestant Loyalists marching this week in Scarborough England.
People do not realise that outside Northern Ireland there are tens of thousands of these guys all over England and Scotland. Right Wing, Conservative and ferociously British to the core.

[J'habite @Javoudria]

Union Flags bad, IRA children's play park good ......

[FGAU @PurpleStandard]

Strabane St Patrick’s parade looked like great family fun 👀

[J'habite @Javoudria]

It's Northern Ireland ......

Not the North of Ireland ......

Respect is a two-way street .....

[Orange Order @OrangeOrder]

31st October marks Reformation Day, the 508th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg which affirmed an individual’s opportunity to have a personal saving relationship with God through faith in Christ alone.

[FGAU @PurpleStandard]

@GerryCarrollPBP On the morning of October 7th as news was breaking about the mass slaughter of innocent people and the rape of young girls you tweeted that it was a “victory”.

You are sick in the head and have no right to be criticising anyone!

[Moore Holmes @mooreholmes24]

It’s a beautiful morning…@TalkLoyalism

[The Duke @BoyneDefender]

The utter garbage that is spouted on Radio Ulster every single day is wild.

Nolan, Crawley, Butler… the station is finished and it’s a disgrace that we are expected to fund it.

[ARDS DISPATCHES @rabgee101]

The response to this from @StephenNolan and the PSNI at the weekend was very telling. War memorials, wreaths ,orange halls, road signs, band murals are vandalised on a weekly basis. Stephen doesn't make appeals on social media and the police don't seal off the area/call in soco.

[Neil Gillespie @Tipler1983]

Imagine this was the other way around.

We’d have protests in the streets.

We’d hear how it’s yet another case of anti Irish bigotry.

People from the political wing of the PIRA would be on the news with a moral lecture for the people.

Ya know, the usual stuff.