CONTINUING our series on the Orange Order and its members, this week we talk to another member, Eric Brown, a member of Fawney Heroes LOL 329 since 1987. He has been a Worshipful Master, Deputy Worshipful Master and Chaplain, and has been a member of the Orange Institution for 65 years, starting as a Junior. Now living in Maguiresbridge, Mr. Brown is originally a West Fermanagh man, from Derrygonnelly.

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?

The Orange Order provides a means for me to belong and feel connected with others who share similar views around my sense of Britishness and connection to Northern Ireland.

The practice of parading illustrates the freedoms that matter to me; the connectivity with the bands community also brings extra colour, and their professionalism resonates with my identity and core values.

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?

Over the Covid-19 pandemic, the Orange Order across County Fermanagh and beyond went an extra mile in providing support and relief to people irrespective of their communal background.

The organisation proved it is an integral part of the community, and over this period demonstrated good neighbourliness to all.

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

The Orange Order gives me a sense of fraternity and opens an avenue where I am able to practice my culture and reinforce my faith-based identity and outlook.

Socially, the Orange Order offers a safe space for me to come together with others to discuss a range of issues, and to contribute towards building a more cohesive and caring society, where tolerance and respect are the forerunners.

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

Each year, County Fermanagh Grand Lodge supports a number of local, regional and national charities in their endeavours to support the community.

Examples include the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, Cancer Research, and the organisation of which I am a founder member and Chairman – Lisnaskea-based South East Fermanagh Foundation.

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?

Whilst membership of the Orange Order is determined on the basis of someone’s denominational faith – i.e., the reformed Protestant faith – this doesn’t limit the scope and concern of our efforts.

At the heart of the institution’s value system is Christianity, and the need to be a good neighbour to all.

It is not about the dominance of any other practising faith, or those who don’t practice at all, but rather about signifying that we live within a diverse society, where the values we hold deserve respect and recognition, just as is the case with others, as confirmed recently by the new President of the GAA.

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?

The Orange Order has been up for the challenge of modernisation, and has put its money where its mouth is.

It is not simply about parading, nor is it about a single day of the year and what happens – The Twelfth.

Rather, it is about what goes on each and every day of the year across the areas of youth development, education and employability, culture, and building connection with the bands community.

The Orange Order also strives to build the capacity of the membership, supporting talent, contributing to issues impacting local communities, working in partnership with others who share common goals, and of fostering good neighbourliness with those who come from a different religious or cultural background.

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?

The Orange Order can provide a focus and a social hub for the community. There are many families across County Fermanagh where the grandparent, their child and their grandchildren are all involved in the cause of Orangeism.

Critically, what needs to be understood is that the Orange Order brings a sense of identity, a sense of place, and is very much connected to townlands, parishes and villages.

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.

Within Fawney Heroes LOL 329, we have a proud tradition and history of remembering those who have been murdered/killed as a result of The Troubles.

We have also worked hard in running events and initiatives which have raised finance and which we then make available to a range of charities, supporting people from right across the community, and across the generations.

We also have made our halls available for a range of organisations, charitable and otherwise, and indeed a number of halls have been the venues for public meetings.

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

In County Fermanagh, the Orange Order has faith as a cornerstone value and the activities to which we are involved are centred around this faith and values.

Any individual who would compromise this core value would be subject to potential discipline.

County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge have provided leadership in a range of areas including good relations, and have been used as a template by others operating in different areas of Northern Ireland and beyond.

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

It is who I am, I will be an Orangeman until the day I pass from this life.

I have seen an organisation evolve over the length of my service, and I am confident that there are young leaders coming up through the institution who will continue to ensure that the values I believe in strongly are reinforced.

Some seek to portray the Orange Order as an archaic institution; rather, the organisation is vibrant, positive about the future, and entirely confident that its relevance within the community will only strengthen and grow.