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Order welcomes Irish funding boost
A LEADING member of the Orange Order in Watersaide, William Wray has welcomed the 250,000 Euro grant from the Irish Government to the Order in the border counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.
Mr Wray said the grant reflected a wewlcome about-turn in the Irish Government, adding that the funding, while long-overdue, was welcome, and he was glad to see that the Order in the South was receiving such a substantial boost.
Refusing to be drawn on the fact that the announcement of the funding had come from de Valera's grandson, Eamon O'Cuiv, Mr Wray said the Orange Institution had been lobbying the Government in the Republic of Ireland for a number of years about a number of issues, one of which was funding for Orange halls.
He said he the Institution also welcomed the fact that there appeared to be an attempt by the Irish Governemtn to address the issue of funding for border area Orange halls, and said the cash would go towards the employment of a development officer.
Meanwhile, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has also welcomed the grant.
In a statement this week a spokesperson said: A problem had arisen over the past four or five years when attempts by Orange lodges to access funding to renovate their halls seemed to be going nowhere.
"We now see the granting of the present funding as a recognitionn that a real problem did exist and we believe this is a genuine attempt by the Government of the Repubic or Ireland to address the issue," he said.
The spokesman continued: "Our members in the Republic of Ireland stand ready to play a fuller part in civic society than heretofore. The recognition which this funding brings with it goes some way towards providing reassurance in the Republic of Ireland that all the children of the nation will now be treated equally."
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Weather for Londonderry
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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