Christmas is coming and all around Northern Ireland communities are gathering for the traditional big switch-on of lights to herald the season of goodwill to all, peace and harmony.
But in Northern Ireland, you can almost guarantee there’s always something to leave a sour taste in the mouth — and this year in Broughshane not all were filled with the festive spirit as the village was lit up last weekend.
Broughshane Orange Lodge expressed their “deep disappointment and regret” after Deputy Mayor of Mid-East Antrim Breanainn Lyness attended the switch-on and parade on behalf of the council.
He represents Sinn Fein, lives five minutes from the village and has been elected by voters who are very much part of the community.
“Christmas is a time for unity, togetherness, and goodwill to all, and we believe that such an important community event should reflect those values,” the Orange Lodge said, but it seems they haven’t listened to their own messaging as they added: “The presence of a Sinn Féin representative, regardless of their position in the council, given the party’s historical associations and stance, namely their totally unrepentant position on the terrorism they waged in this country for 30 years is deeply divisive and inconsiderate to many in our community.”
It’s not the first time the village has seen tensions rise in the wake of a community event.
In 2022 the council were asked to investigate claims that ‘pro-IRA songs’ were played on the grounds of a Presbyterian Church during what was billed as a cross-community St Patrick’s Day event, which Braid District LOL No18 said was turned into “a platform for glorifying IRA terrorism”.
What the latest row shows is that a democratic mandate will only go so far in many minds and the idea it confers automatic respect is nothing but a festive fairytale.
The ghosts of Christmas past remain all too clear in the memory for some, but it’s time for the ghosts of Christmas yet to come to have their say. All too often they end up weighed down by those chains of the past this place can never seem to shed.
There are difficulties to overcome. The bitterness of the troubled past the older generation are all too familiar with is still strong to the taste.
But for the sake of future generations let’s hope the local council’s acknowledged ‘regret that some members of the orange lodge were dismayed,” is surpassed by their commitment to ‘fostering a spirit of harmony and respect within Broughshane and will continue to work towards the strengthening of our community’.
We have to keep working on reconciliation