Faithful Tribe: The Loyal Institutions

Every summer throughout Northern Ireland, tens of thousands of Protestants parade; wearing bowler hats and collarettes and carrying banners with biblical and historical scenes, they are viewed by outsiders as triumphalist bigots lording it over the minority population. However, to the members of the loyal institutions - Apprentice Boys, Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory - they are merely commemorating the courage of their forefathers, proudly celebrating hard-won civil and religious freedoms, demonstrating their loyalty to God and the Crown and having an enjoyable day out with their families and friends.During the last few years, organised opposition to parades has led to violent confrontations: hundreds of journalists and cameramen from around the world arrive at flashpoints like Derry, Drumcree and the Ormeau Road in Belfast to record the violence that could lead to civil war. And almost all outsiders blame the loyal institutions for intransigence and insensitivity in marching where they are not wanted.Noted author and historian Ruth Dudley Edwards tells their inside story for the first time. A veteran of dozens of parades - peaceful and violent - she has developed close friendships within the institutions that have given her a unique insight into what their members do and think and stand for, while her Dublin Roman Catholic background provides a critical vantage point from which to assess them.