Ireland: The A-Z Irish Glossary - 'M' is for 'Marching'
'Marching'
The Irish people are sometimes known for their marching and have a long history of protesting due to being treated unfairly by their religious leaders, employers and government. As a consequence of historical political invasions (usually by the English!) they have also marched to protect their person, rights and territory.
This tradition has continued in Northern Ireland in the name of religious order in particular and the annual period of madness usually kicks off during the summer months. This is when members
of the 'Unionist'
community
celebrate their culture
by marching with pipe bands and banners commemorating loyalist
victories of days past. Many of their routes take them
through Catholic Nationalist
areas;
needless to say, the locals aren't exactly pleased to see them.
Cue protests, riots, stand-offs with the police, petrol bombings,
and clogged airwaves as rabid spokesmen from both traditions
try to justify the anarchy perpetrated by their followers
while condemning the (identical) anarchy perpetrated by the
other side, while representatives of the British and Irish
governments stand around looking pained. A totally unnecessary feat these days that many Irish people (including Northerners) feel it is just an excuse to cause mayhem.