A new occasional series on what the Orange Order means to its members. Firstly, we speak to Mervyn Byers, County Fermanagh Grand Master.

Can you share a personal experience that highlights the significance of the cultural aspects within the Orange Order and how it resonates with your own identity?

I am a native of Co. Cavan in the Irish Republic who grew up in an Orange Family. From an early age, I remember travelling as a family to the Twelfth of July in Northern Ireland. Although my identity was belonging to a Protestant Orange family, there was always good community relations with all our neighbours. It was commonplace for our Roman Catholic neighbours to help with the hay while our family was away to the Twelfth. For me, the cultural aspect of the Orange Order was about unity and togetherness and harbouring good relationships within the community.

Reflecting on your involvement in the Orange Order in Fermanagh, could you share a memorable moment that captures the essence of the organisation for you?

I have been a member of the Orange Order for 36 years and currently serve as County Grand Master. One of the most memorable moments that capture the essence of the Orange Order is how they reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic. The County Lodge helped source PPE and sanitary products for the hospital and homes. The order also actively supported the widows and orphans and worked in various capacities to ensure that whatever was required was as supplied as much as possible.

How has your participation in the Orange Order positively impacted your life, both culturally and socially?

The Orange Order is much more than an organisation; it is more like a family. There is unity and togetherness in the private lodge. You know that you have the support and friendship of the wider Orange family. I have been humbled in my position as County Grand Master to see the Orange Order actively supporting the various needs in the community. There is a duty of care that goes far beyond membership of the Order. The highlight of the year is the Twelfth of July; this is an opportunity to meet and celebrate our heritage. It is also a time to meet up with old friends and renew acquaintances. My participation in the Orange Order has had a massive impact on my life. It has made me proud of my heritage and reminded me of the struggle our forefathers endured to bring us the freedom to worship God that we enjoy today.

Can you recall a specific instance where the Orange Order actively engaged with the community, fostering understanding and positive connections?

The Orange Order is always actively seeking ways of engaging with the community. It has put in place a number of different initiatives in order to foster positive understanding within the community. Groups from Limerick, Monaghan, Cavan and Sligo including local councillors were invited by the County Grand Lodge to the Twelfth of July demonstration in Fermanagh. This was an attempt to harbour good relations with our neighbours from all backgrounds and to show that the Twelfth of July demonstration is nothing more than a celebration of culture that is open to all. The Orange Order are continually trying to ensure that the Twelfth of July has a family carnival atmosphere, which highlights the inclusivity of the Order.

When faced with criticism that the Orange Order only presents one perspective, how do you personally respond to such claims, and how do you think the Order addresses the need for inclusivity?

The Orange Order receives a lot of criticism from certain aspects of the community, which I believe is unwarranted. Most of these accusations are brought against the Order by those who do not understand what the Orange Order actually stands for. The Orange Order is unashamedly Protestant; it was instituted as a Christian order to uphold and maintain the Protestant Reformed Faith, and the precepts of the Orange Order are based on the inspired Word of God, which contains the guidelines for our faith and practice.

The Orange Order is viewed as being a male-dominated society, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Recently, the Order has witnessed a rapid increase in the number of both Women’s Lodges and Junior Lodges.

In 2012 County Fermanagh Grand Lodge initiated an internal and external audit within the county. This audit entailed giving members of the order an opportunity to express their concerns and also give the wider public an opportunity to share their observations of the order.

Personally, how do you find a balance between preserving cherished traditions within the Orange Order and adapting to the need for the organisation to modernise?

I think there is always a need for modernisation, and as society adapts and changes to meet new challenges, the Orange Order must also adapt and change. Some things that were accepted 50 years ago may no longer accepted today. But there is a fine balance between modernising and changing. It can modernise how it interacts with a more diverse society, but it cannot change the precepts on which it is founded. The foundation on which the Orange Order stands is Christian and is founded to support and defend the Reformed faith, which is the DNA of the institution. The Word of God is the rule and guide of our faith and practice. The challenge for the Orange Order is how it applies those unchanging precepts to an ever-changing world.

How has being a member of the Orange Order influenced your family life, and what values do you believe are passed down through these traditions to the next generation?

You cannot separate being a member of the Orange Order from being a husband, father and grandfather. It reverberates throughout the family because it is part of who we are. Membership of the Orange Order is often generational and the desire for membership is passed down from parents. Orangeism is important within families because it is all about promoting our cultural identity and heritage which is important to maintain throughout each generation.

In my tenure as County Grand Master, there is a certain sacrifice required by my family as I am out many nights in the week in my official capacity. But as a whole, the greatest tradition that can be passed to the next generation is the Christian aspect of the order which seeks always to honour the Lord Jesus Christ.

Share a specific example of community outreach or charitable work you've been involved in as part of the Orange Order, demonstrating its positive impact in Fermanagh.

There are many examples that I could give in relation to the charitable work of the Orange Order because there is an ongoing initiative to support the various charities that are struggling for funds during these challenging times. During the Twelfth of July demonstration the County Grand Lodge selects a chosen charity which the order will support. We have supported charities such as Air Ambulance, Cancer Connect, Dementia UK, Scripture Union, RNLI and SWELL among others. The Order hold a Gala night and a Banner Mission which both support the chosen charity. The Grand Lodge is always seeking to find new ways of supporting the needy causes from all sides of the community.

What role does faith play within the Orange Order, and how does it influence the organisation's activities and values?

Faith plays a major role within the Orange Order, which was founded on strong Christian values. At the very core of the order, there are a number of Christian values that every member is expected to adhere to. These values or qualifications are foundational, and every member is expected to display these Christian values in his or her life within the community. Values such as being a diligent student of the Holy Bible, a regular attender at church, a follower of Christ actively participating in Christian mission in the community and living peacefully with all sections of the community.

Can you discuss how being part of the Orange Order has shaped your sense of identity?

We live in a society today that has become fragmented; the sense of belonging has disappeared, and individuality has become the reality of this post-modern world. The Orange Order is primarily a family. Becoming a member of the Orange Order is becoming part of a family. Every private lodge largely consists of people from the same community. Every Protestant church is represented within the order, and every aspect of unionism is also represented.

The private lodge is overseen by a District lodge, which is overseen by the County Lodge, which is part of the Grand Lodge. For me, being a member of the Orange Order has not only given me the joy of being part of a local family but also gives me the confidence that I am part of a national and, indeed, international family which comes together to support and mould me into a person that I am.