Boyd launches new book of Orange snaps

A book featuring 100 portraits of Orangemen and women to mark the Ulster Covenant has been launched by a local photographer.
Pictured at the launch of 'Orange Blood' are (L-R) Mark Baxter,
Mayor of Craigavon; photographer Boyd McClurg; Olive Whitten, Grand
Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland; and
Edward Stevenson; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.Pictured at the launch of 'Orange Blood' are (L-R) Mark Baxter,
Mayor of Craigavon; photographer Boyd McClurg; Olive Whitten, Grand
Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland; and
Edward Stevenson; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.
Pictured at the launch of 'Orange Blood' are (L-R) Mark Baxter, Mayor of Craigavon; photographer Boyd McClurg; Olive Whitten, Grand Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland; and Edward Stevenson; Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

Dollingstown-born snapper Boyd McClurg put together the book to commemorate the centenary of the Ulster Covenant.

‘Orange Blood’ is a unique collection of pictures, compiled to permanently record the Orange Institution’s important role in the events of 1912 and the Third Home Rule crisis.

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Boyd’s mission was to portray the Orange family a century on since the landmark event in Unionist history and in doing so has captured a broad spectrum of Orange personnel, both young and old, from across the Province, the mainland and the Republic of Ireland.

Among the many subjects in the publication are senior members of the Loyal Orders including Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, and Grand Mistress of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen, Olive Whitten.

Mr McClurg, from Broughshane, said he was indebted to the support he received from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland for his innovative project.

He said: “The enthusiasm of the men, women and children who have been portrayed in this book confirmed to me that it was a family that I had begun to photograph. I hope that this cross section of people who welcomed me into their family can be seen in years to come as a reminder of the love and loyalty that is cherished by those who are part of the Orange Institution.

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“To commemorate a centenary is to make a connection with real life one hundred years ago.

“Some of the sashes in the portraits have been handed down from one generation to the next and will never go to a museum, so this book lets you see that which is old and that which is beautiful. For all the individuals in these portraits the Orange way of life is in their blood.”

Writing in the book’s foreword, Mr Stevenson commended the local photographer on his initiative.

Mayor of Craigavon, Mark Baxter, expressed his delight at hosting the book launch.