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Dublin and Wicklow District

King William 111 Prince of Orange LOL 1313

From the foundation of the Orange Institution in 1795 to the early part of the twentieth century Dublin City and County was an important Protestant and Orange centre in Ireland. Dublin was the political capital of Ireland until the Act of Union in 1801, which closed the Irish Parliament and united it with Westminster. However Dublin remained the administrative capital of Ireland until partition in 1921.

The first Grand Lodge of Ireland meeting was held in Dublin. The first Minute Book of the Grand Lodge reads as follows:- "That it is advisable that this first meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland should be on Monday the 9th Day of April at the House of Thomas Verner of Dawson Street Esq. Grand Master of the Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh." The Dawson Street home was the town house of James Verner M.P. (A Member of the Irish Parliament), and father of Thomas Verner J.P. A Plaque in the footpath, erected by Dublin Corporation, now marks the place where the Verner house once stood.

Dublin was therefore, as the administrative Capital of the Island, the natural headquarters for the Orange Institution and remained such until the Headquarters Buildings, the Fowler Memorial Hall in Rutland Square, was severely damaged in the Civil War. The Headquarters, situated in what is now Parnell Square, at the top of O'Connell Street, had been seized by the IRA, and in conjunction with the Rotunda, used as their headquarters. Following its evacuation by the IRA all the books and documents which had survived the siege were removed to Belfast where they were safely stored. The last public parade in Dublin was in 1936, when the Brethren were attacked as they walked from the Fowler Hall to Amiens St Station to travel by train to Belfast, for the annual 12th of July celebrations.

From the beginning of the Institution Dublin was an important centre. Prior to becoming the first Grand Master, Thomas Verner (1774-1853), founded the first Orange Lodge in the City of Dublin (LOL 176) on 4th June 1797. Early meetings of the Lodge were held in Harrington's Hotel in Grafton Street. The membership of LOL 176, which totalled over three hundred, included some of the most distinguished men in Ireland at that time.

Throughout the nineteenth century Dublin City and Dublin County hosted a large number of Lodges. These Lodges were to be found in areas such a Rathmines, South Circular Road, North Strand and Kingstown, (now Dn Laoghaire). After the First World War the Orange Order in Dublin started its decline. This was mainly due to losses in the Great War, emigration and the political system which existed at that time. Pride of place in the Orange Hall in Dublin is a roll of Honour of all the Dublin Lodges which existed then and a list of names of all who served and who were lost in that Great War.

The decline continued and the last remaining Lodge serving all Orange brethren in Dublin is King William III Prince of Orange LOL 1313 (founded in 1949) in the District of Dublin and Wicklow. In recent years the lodge has been stabilised and new younger members are coming forward for membership. LOL 1313 is now an active and vibrant lodge well adapted for the changing society here in Dublin as we progress into the twenty-first century.

The Lodge has members not only drawn from Dublin but from Wicklow, Cork and Limerick as well as affiliate members from Northern Ireland who wish to support the Orange cause in Dublin and Southern Ireland. Due to the ever improving rail and road network in the State membership of the Institution is no longer restricted to people who happen to live near an Orange Hall. With modern technology, communication between the lodge and its members has never been better. King William LOL 1313 is always looking for new members. Members who are active in their respective Churches, communities and who are proud of their Protestant religion, culture and heritage. If you think you have something to offer we would be glad to hear from you.

Annual Church Services

Despite the reluctance/nervousness of some local Protestant churches the Brethren of Dublin and Wicklow proudly hold their annual Church Service in Dublin. This Service is usually held in early October and the local Brethren are delighted by the support they receive from others who travel long distances in order to attend. The collection from the Service is donated to the Adelaide Hospital society and the Irish Church Missions. Details of this service will be posted on our new board and also published in the Orange Standard.

The Brethren of the Lodge, on behalf of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland, are present at the Annual Remembrance Day Service in November, in St Patricks Cathedral Dublin. During this service we are proud to lay a wreath and remember all the Brethren who gave their lives in the two World Wars so that we may all live free from oppression.

Charities

Chapter of the Adelaide Hospital Society

The brethren of Dublin and Wicklow are affiliated to the Adelaide Hospital Society. Since the amalgamation of the Republics last remaining Protestant hospital (The Adelaide) into a new state of the art Hospital in Dublin. We consider supporting this society an important way of maintaining the continuation of the Adelaides Protestant ethos in the new Hospital. Unfortunately here in Ireland most hospitals even though they are funded by the tax payer are controlled by a Roman Catholic ethics committee and are usually adorned by the trappings of the Church of Rome. In-spite of the good health care given to all, this adornment is often offensive to many Protestant and others.

Working with the community

Since independence those of the Protestant community who remained and were not forced to leave, found the new state and its agencies hostile to Protestants, their culture and heritage. As a result of this Protestants too often detached them selves from general society and kept mainly to them selves for fear of being singled out. Also during this time the Protestant community declined in numbers due to two world wars, the unpleasant nature of much that went on in the new state and the marriage rules imposed on Protestants involved in mixed marriages and their partners by the Roman Catholic Church. This unpleasant aspect of Irish society continued up until the 1970s. With the changing political climate here in the last few years there has been (at last) a slow recognition by the state that society since independence was not inclusive of all its minorities. In the Republic of Ireland today society has become far more tolerant and pluralistic than in the past and this is progressing year by year.

In 1998 the Brethren of Dublin of Wicklow were invited by the President of the state to a meeting to assist organise a function to be hosted by the President to mark the 12th of July. This meeting was the first ever between a President of the Irish Republic and members of the Loyal Orange Institution of Ireland. Though coming from opposing ends of the political and religious spectrum this co-operation is something we in Dublin and Wicklow are very proud off. Since that initial step we in the Dublin and Wicklow District of the Loyal Orange institution have gained a new confidence in ourselves which we will hope will bring our Glorious Institution with its rich Religious, Cultural heritage into a new beginning here in the Republic of Ireland.

Since the Protestant community here in Dublin is relatively small the lodge actively encourages its members to be active in promoting and assisting Protestant social events. We also encourage our members to meet fellow brethren in other Lodges. In doing this we hope they not only make new friends but would gain a better understanding of Brethren who live in different parts of the country and come from differing back grounds.

Members of the Orange Institution here in Dublin have had little or no interest in Politics. Many felt that since independence no one party fully reflected their political ideals. In 1996 some members of the institution along with others got together to form the non-denominational Reform Movement, which was launched in 1998. Once again members of the Orange Institution in the Republic, co-operating with others, were the first to re enter the political arena since independence. The Reform Movement represents all those who regard themselves as British/Irish, descendants of the old southern Unionist tradition, Redmondite and post Nationalist. Along with others we are actively promoting greater integration within these Islands; we would argue that the Republic of Ireland rejoins the Commonwealth of nations. In Northern Ireland, many Nationalists opt for dual citizenship. If a similar privilege were to be offered to Unionists in the Republic, "parity of esteem" would be more clearly seen. The Reform Movement also actively promotes a more tolerant and pluralist society here.

If you would like further information of the Dublin and Wicklow District LOL 1313 then write to:

The Secretary Dublin and Wicklow District.
C/O 368 Cregagh Road
Belfast BT6 9EY .
Northern Ireland.

or email [email protected]