Beyond the Bonfires: The 12th & the Orange Order

Welcome to Belfast. A city steeped in history and nestled in the heart of Northern Ireland. Every year, on the 12th of July an annual holiday begins. The day has become infused with great significance and has become celebrated as a bulwark symbol of Unionism. On this date, the people of Northern Ireland find themselves transported back in time to the year 1690 as the celebrations commemorate the triumph of the Protestant King William of Orange over the armies of the Catholic King James at the Battle of Aughrim.

The event encapsulates the deep-rooted divisions that existed during this period and continues to exist unto the modern day. The holiday is primarily orchestrated by the Orange Order, a prominent Protestant fraternal organisation.

In our investigation, we delve into the intriguing world of the Orange Order, the bonfires, and the captivating marches that envelop this unique holiday. We interview prominent figures of The Troubles, as well as members of the Orange Order, in order to uncover the role of the organisation in the contemporary context of Northern Ireland.

This is our first on-the-ground documentary, and we'd like to think it's our first of many. Please consider supporting independent journalism and the future of our work, as we are entirely independent. You can support our work for as low as €2 a month on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/moderninsurgent.

Huge thanks to our current Patrons for enabling this production. Further thanks to @ATroubledLand for granting us access to some archival footage -- please check out their channel for more fantastic content on the Troubles.

Credits
→ Michael Archer (Chief Reporter)
→ Sam Lett (Producer & Lead Researcher)
→ Antoine Brimbal (Director & Video Editor)
→ Thomas Brown (Cameraman)

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