The Orange Order and young people: an organisation in decline?

By Claire Dickson

The Orange Order is one of the most prominent civic organisations within Northern Ireland and is an important part of their culture for many within the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist community. But since 1965, it has lost a third of its membership especially in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Leaders of the organisation have also commented in the past that there is ‘a loss of interest in religious organisations among young people.’ I spoke to two young people involved with the organisation to gauge their thoughts and feelings towards its future and whether or not they think it is an organisation in decline.

Jay Basra, a young person from Cookstown is a member of the organisation and believes there are plenty of other young people like him who are involved.

 ‘There are countless junior lodges. It’s a common misconception that the Orange order doesn’t attract young people. Many say the Orange Order is in decline, and I don’t subscribe to this theory as it’s false. In fact, it’s going from strength to strength with continued growth and support from members across the British Isles and the world.’

Tristan Morrow is another young person involved with his local Orange lodge and maintains that the order is on an upwards trajectory.

‘The Orange order was massively struggling to get people from the 80s-90s generation to join, so there was a massive drop in membership. But my lodge in Clabby has gone from less than 10 members in 2002 to well over 50. My generation has brought a massive spike to membership.’

When asked how the Order attracts young people, Morrow commented that ‘The order needs to actively ask people but seem to have a hard time doing so. The website is terrible with regards to asking people to join, not answering emails and ghosting after two emails.’

For him, the Order is an organisation based on religious values. ‘All churches of the reformed faith are allowed to join but there are also LGBT people involved as not all churches hold the same social views.’

‘My generation won’t let it down. I intend to be like my great grandfather who helped revive it in the early 60s, knock door to door, and ask them to join today. If we do that it won’t decline.’

Whilst these young people are optimistic about the future, time will tell whether their generation’s passion and persistence in maintaining the organisation’s relevance will pay off amidst an ever-changing demographic in Northern Ireland.

Claire Dickson is Head of the Scoop and a 3rd year politics student at QUB.