Orange Order

synonym: Loyal Orange Institution The largest of the three main Loyal Orders. The Orange Order was founded on 21 September 1795 and currently has between 80,000 to 100,000 members. The order has strong links with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). There are several thousand parades and marches each year associated with the Orange Order and the bands which play in the parades. Although there are parades all year round the climax occurs on 12 July each year when Orangemen celebrate the victory of King William III (William of Orange) over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Most of the parades pass off peacefully but there are a number of contentious parades through Catholic areas and there has been considerable violence associated with them over the past few years. The Rev. Martin Smyth was the Grand Master of the Orange Order from 1971 to December 1996. The current Grand Master is Robert Saulters who was elected to the post in December 1996. Reading: Kennedy, B. (ed.) (1990) A Celebration: 1690-1990, The Orange Institution.