Case Study:The Apprentice Boys of Derry

• Between 1688 and 1691 the War of the Three Kings occurred when the Protestant William of Orange was attempting to overthrow the Catholic King James II to take over power of Britain and Ireland.

• During that time Protestants fled to the walled city of Derry to get away from King James and his army.

• The Siege of Derry lasted from December 1688 to August 1689.

• The siege began when King James arrived outside the walls of the city to take control of it

• When the governor of the city, Lundy, wished to surrender, thirteen young boys training to be apprentices went against his orders and closed the gates of the city on the Catholic army on December 18th shouting “no surrender”.

• After 105 days of siege, involving hunger and disease, the siege was lifted on August 12th by the arrival of relief ships from Britain.

• Ever since, Protestants of Derry have drawn inspiration from the victory.

Why did they march?

• The Apprentice Boys commemorate The Siege of Derry that took place in 1689

• It was a siege in which William of Orange (A protestant) defeated King James II (A catholic)

Derry• 70% Catholic

• Despite this the Protestants had a control over Derry up to the 1960’s due to gerrymandering

• While the ABOD parades were a reminder of their victory over Catholics; it was equally a reminder to Catholics of defeat, and of current discrimination and gerrymandering.

• The 30 % Protestant minority were relieved to have thousands of Apprentice Boys joining them in Derry twice a year so for a day or two at least they didn't feel threatened or outnumbered.

Parades• They hold 2 every year:

• Dec 18th: The parade which takes place each year in Derry celebrates the closing of the town gates and the start of the siege.

• August 12th: Help coming to Derry is celebrated and just like in 1690 a parade around the walls of the City celebrates the end of the siege. They marched and sang songs

Parades cause controversy• The August 12th march was controversial as the protestant

Apprentice Boys marched along the city walls and often insults and pennies were thrown down into the poor unemployed Catholic Bogside area below. This never really caused bother until the Troubles were breaking out in the late 1960’s

• 1968: After a NICRA march was attacked with batons in Derry in October tensions were high.

• August 12th 1969: “The Battle of the Bogside” 15,000 ABOD marched through Derry, some marchers threw pennies from the walls down into the Bogside. Bogside Catholics then threw stones and petrol bombs back. Rioting began between Catholic youths and RUC for 2 days. Eventually the British army was called in. Many consider “The Battle of the Bogside” to be the real start of the violence and Troubles

ABOD in the 1970’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s

• 1970/71: ABOD marches banned

• 1972-1980’s They were only allowed march in the Protestant Waterside area

• 1973: IRA blew up the Walker monument, this was there they burned a dummy of Lundy on the Dec 18th parade every year (sign of IRA hatred of ABOD)

• 1989: 300 year anniversary of the Siege of Derry. Derry City Council( now Catholic controlled) allowed ABOD to march around city walls as the Siege was a part of history for everyone in Derry.

• The attitude of ABOD had changed too; they no longer threw coins or sang insulting songs.