Exploring Culture
A series of photographs exploring Loyalist culture within Northern Ireland, predominately Belfast.
Loyalists support the union of Northern Ireland being part of Great Britain and the roles of the Westminster Government and the Queen. The aim for this project is to highlight and inform people of the culture, and the celebrations that take place and explore the question "is it a fading culture?" as it appears that the younger generations are no longer joining the Orange Men Lodges*. Not only are there less numbers in these groups but places like the Peace Walls are beginning to be demolished and with it the histories they remember. This is something I wanted to document before it disappears.
These photographs tell a story that starts at the Harland and Wolff dock, where the Titanic was built, which originally only employed Protestant workers and moves on to the peace wall that separated Catholics and Protestants during the struggles. Next in the series we have the marching bands on the 11th of July parade in the lead up to the Orange Order march the following day. In the evening of the 11th of July large bonfires are lit all over Northern Ireland and are a beacon of light across the different towns and villages, they are left burning until the morning when the march will take place celebrating the Protestant King Billy. The bonfire I photographed had a Republican flag stung across it and in my eyes, is a tool to antagonise republicans. While there, I discovered that around 50-60 years ago they would put dummies of the Pope on top. The last photographs in the series show the journey of the Orange Order march on the 12th July where bands join them and parade around the towns and villages. Roads are closed and the turnout is outstanding. I've never experienced an atmosphere like it.
*An Orange Man is part of a Protestant institution where they march on the 12th of July to celebrate King William of Orange who defeated the Catholic King James II in 'The Battle of Boyne' which aimed at stopping Catholicism being restored in Britain.