Lodge presents banner

The banner which was the property of Waringstown LOL No 83, was made by banner makers Bridges of Belfast and is painted on silk on both sides.

The banner was designed in memory of nine men from Waringstown who were killed in World War I and who were members of three different Orange lodges in the town.

The nine men were, Major Holt Waring, Lieutenant Waring, Sergeant Irwin, Privates Collins, Douglas, Hampton, Hand, Hanna and Magee.

Sergeant Irwin served in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Private Douglas in the Australian Infantry and Lieutenant Waring in the Royal Navy, the others all served in the Royal Irish Rifles.

The banner is unusual in that nine people are commemorated in portrait form on it, most banners have only one portrait. The reverse side of the banner shows King William of Orange.

Over time the condition of the banner has deteriorated and the decision was taken to donate it to the museum. Prior to its donation it was conserved by Dublin textile conservator, Rachel Phelan. Members of Waringstown LOL travelled to Downpatrick on October 1 when the banner was given to the museum and received by museum staff and the Vice-Chairman of Down District Council, Councillor Dermot Curran.

The museum currently has Orange Order and Ancient Order of Hibernians’ sashes, two banners of the AOH, a Sunday School banner and a banner of the County Down Association of New York which depicts St Patrick.