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If someone had told me 6 years ago in Dublin when I started
this job that I would be driving down the main street of Enniskillen
on 12 July, 1 hour before the main parade in my southern registered
car and stopping to ask the police officer where the Orange
Hall was because I was having lunch with the County Grand
Officers, I wouldn’t have believed them.
However this is my third year attending parades, having been
at Bangor and Portadown in the previous two years.
The landscape of relationships on this island has changed
considerably along with attitudes and perceptions. Major efforts
are underway to realise the tourism potential of 12 July as
a festival.
I was also invited and honoured to attend the Parade in Rossnowlagh,
County Donegal, the week before.
We were fortunate with the weather on both days, with Donegal
providing lots of sunshine and good atmosphere. There was
a very good turnout in Enniskillen and the atmosphere was
warm and friendly with many families out for the day.
Having spoken to many people, I was very impressed with all
the work which people put in to ensuring the day was a success
- and particularly the efforts to create a ‘family friendly’
atmosphere.
Also evident were the sprinkling of foreign tourists who
brought additional colour to the events.
Several meetings have been held with the Orange Order, Tourism
Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, and good relationships
have been established. While the tourism potential remains
to be quantified, there are clear projects from a cultural
prospective that are worth exploring.
The Orange Order has a long history and diaspora and the
genealogy maps available through minute books provide a link
from the past to prospective overseas visitors.
The move from Demonstration to Celebration would require
investment and an economic impact study may be appropriate
to quantify that potential to justify that.
From an international tourism perspective, all our overseas
research still places safety and security at the top of the
international travellers agenda.
The ability to reach out to the traveller requires us to
build on the success of the last number of years.
I can only say that I have been impressed by the enthusiasm
and goodwill shown by people who are striving to make the
events truly cultural and ensure that appeal across the whole
society. They deserve our encouragement and support.
Niall Gibbons,
Director of Corporate Services,Tourism Ireland, Dublin
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