Saturday 20th April was the date chosen to commemorate to 100th anniversary of the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force. It was many months in the planning and the end product lived up to all the expectation. What we seen was a spectacle and a re-enactment of how are forefathers mobilised in the face of errant danger. There was colour–paegentry–organisation–discipline and above all, a sense of pride in the festivities. Many thanks are due to many people but its best to congratulate all those who took part both in the procession or as spectators. The weather held up on a day when many thousands took to the streets to witness this spectacular. The massed ranks consisting of many Loyalist organisations right across the spectrum ensured a gala atmosphere for the jubliant onlookers, and they were’nt disappointed. From the first steps on the Ravenhill Road to the prepared field at Craigavon House–and back–the massed throngs played their part on cheering the ranks along. It was reminiscent of any 12th day and to me even surpassed the mini twelfth. And how ironic that the crowds were abundant on the Belmont Road–a timely contradiction to those who queried the erection of flags a few days previously. A studiously organised and incident free parade was also a slap in the face of those who cast aspersions on it beforehand. Indeed the twin tabloids on Sunday had to resort to the ludicrous suggestion that the parade had been “hijacked” by the modern day UVF. At least, in their respective reports both gutter newspapers got the size of the procession right in terms of the amountof people taking part!! Hard to try and say anything else–as the many thousands of photographs produced would hardly lie. There were many highlights on a extraordinary day–a day that will live long in the memory. However, for me it was with some poignancy that I stood on the slopes below the imposing building that has its in place in history as the birth place of the Ulster Volunteers. I couldnt help but wonder what the thinking is behind the non action of the Unionist Party in addressing the delapidated state of Craigavon House? It is indeed shameful that it has been allowe to fall into such disrepair. 14 years ago I was part of a small focus group who lobbied the same party–for they supplied the bulk of trustees on the Craigavon House board–to no effect. At best we were ignored. Our S.O.S.–Save Our Somme–pleas fell on deaf ears. Those same ears still refuse to listen to the clamour to restore the House to its former glories. The truth is that if Craigavon House had the same historical value to Republicans as it did for Loyalists it would now be a museum, attracting tens of thousands of visitors–it would be an icon. It’s not too late to save it. So hopefully the diligence and fortitude of the small number of volunteers who decorated the House for Saturday’s parade will serve as a lesson to those who are actually in a position to do something about it.
