Orange Lodge Row: A Comedy of Errors in Co. Antrim
Ah, the Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge 922—not exactly the go-to destination for a laugh, unless you count the meeting minutes. You know, they usually keep their squabbles behind closed doors, like a Netflix series we never asked for. But thanks to the Sunday World, we’re now all front-row spectators to this three-act drama on the balcony of breakdown.
Behind Closed Doors: The Great Orange Lodge Mystery
The Orange lodge might sound like a fancy fruit shop, but it’s a serious affair—serious enough that tensions reached a boiling point in October 2023 during a rather heated meeting in Castlegore Orange Hall. And you thought your family dinners were intense!
Oh, and speaking of family dinners, elderly members of this very lodge were verbally abused for having the audacity to raise concerns about governance issues. Probably a bit like shouting “too salty” at the Christmas turkey; someone’s bound to blow a gasket!
And here’s the crux—the lodge hasn’t held any meetings since that blow-up. Now, remember folks, Orange lodges are *required* to meet every month. But here we are, a whole month later, and they’re about as engaged as a cat in a dog park.
A Divided Lodge: The Missing Parade
It gets better, doesn’t it? The divisions are so deep that the Castlegore lodge didn’t even officially participate in this year’s highlight, the July 12th celebrations. You know you’ve reached a new level of awkward when you’ve got other lodges marching while you’re stuck at home binge-watching reruns of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
Some members did manage to join other groups for this grand event. Think of it as finding another group of friends to hang out with after a fallout with your primary squad. Classic.
The Great Dismissals: Notice Anyone?
Fast forward to last month, and some senior members were given the boot following a special meeting that was called about as subtly as a tap dance on a grave. Reports say there was quite the ruckus about the meeting’s outcome and how it was conducted. It was like organizing a surprise party but forgetting to tell the guest of honor!
There’s even a source who claims the meeting rules were flaunted in such a way that some senior members were notified on the very day it was happening—like, surprise! “You’re fired!” I mean, who needs a seven-days’ notice when you can do a Monday morning cleanup?
Drama Mountains and Mysterious Figures
Now, sources close to the dispute claim the matter has even made its way up to the top bacon in the Orange Order, yet nothing has been done about it. Imagine sending a message by carrier pigeon—one that’s lost somewhere over Antrim—while the crows watch the mayhem unfold below.
In the midst of all this drama, you’ve got the Grand Secretary of the organization, the Revered Mervyn Gibson. When approached about the conflict, he simply passed the **hot potato** to the press officer, who stated that they don’t comment on internal issues. Bravo! Talk about dodging a bullet. Well, at least he’s kept the *spud* rolling!
Conclusion: An Orange Slice of Reality
As the Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge continues to navigate this maze of miscommunication, one can only watch-and-wait, marinated in the sheer absurdity of it all. This is a timely reminder: even within the “serious” structures of fraternal organizations, a good squabble can be just as entertaining as prime-time television.
So, what’s next? Will we see a reconciliation? Will they ever hold those much-needed meetings? Or will we see more betrayals and fireworks? Stay tuned, folks! The Orange Lodge drama is far from over.
A contentious dispute within the Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge 922 in County Antrim has come to light, significantly highlighted by revelations from the Sunday World in September.
The Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge, founded over a century ago, has found itself embroiled in controversy, particularly with allegations of verbal abuse directed towards older members who raised concerns regarding governance issues within the lodge’s operations.
During a particularly intense meeting in October 2023, held at the Castlegore Orange Hall near Ballymena, tensions erupted among the lodge members, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing dispute.
The ongoing divisions within the lodge were so severe that they refrained from participating in this year’s July 12th celebrations, an annual highlight for members of the Orange Order.
The Sunday World has reported that several senior members of the Castlegore lodge were removed from their positions during a special meeting arranged last month, aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict that has plagued the organization.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that there was significant discontent surrounding the outcome of this meeting, particularly regarding its conduct.
Sources close to the dispute relay that the matter has even been escalated to the highest levels of the Orange Order, yet they claim that little to no action has been taken.
The Orange Order describes itself as upholding the “principles of the reformed Protestant faith” and is structured in a hierarchical format, leading from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland to local lodges throughout the region.
Each lodge operates independently, electing its own officers responsible for managing various aspects of the organization.
Concerns from members of the Castlegore lodge were notably addressed during a meeting held in May this year, which reportedly saw attendance from approximately 40 individuals.
At this particular gathering, a letter was read outlining the grievances held by some Castlegore lodge members.
The discussions surrounding the meeting were fraught with tension, as it was reported that members who voiced concerns were subjected to harsh criticism, with some being instructed to “stop digging” into the matter.
In light of these events, the Sunday World sought clarification from the Ballymena District regarding the state of the ongoing issues raised in the May meeting.
The highest authority within the Orange Order, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI), representing approximately 250 members nationwide, is also involved in discussions regarding the dispute.
Sources indicated that the ongoing conflict at Castlegore has been a topic of discussion with Reverend Mervyn Gibson, GOLI’s Grand Secretary.
When approached for comment, Mr. Gibson redirected inquiries to the GOLI’s press officer, who responded with a statement emphasizing that the organization refrains from commenting on internal matters.
What are the key issues causing unrest within the Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge?
Color-grey-60)”>The issues continued to simmer, leading to further unrest within the lodge.
the Castlegore Loyal Orange Lodge is in a precarious position, marred by internal disputes and accusations that threaten the unity of this long-standing institution. Whether the current rifts will mend or deepen, only time will tell, but observers are watching closely as this situation unfolds. Will future meetings bear fruit, or will they simply serve as a stage for more drama and dissent? Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding saga.
