New era for Barron LOL627

ON Friday of next week the members of Barron LOL627 will celebrate the start of a new era with the official opening of their new Orange hall.

The old Barron Orange hall, which was built in 1929 by the members of Barron LOL 627, consisted of a tin-framed purpose-built hall with no heating, no toilets, no water, and no kitchen, and it had old timber framed windows.

The hall served the needs of the members of the Lodge and members of the community from 1929 untill 2008. During one of the Lodge meetings in late 2008, the Lodge members decided to build a new Orange Hall on exactly the same site where the previous hall had stood for well over 80 years.

The Lodge members put the plan in action and before knocking the old hall down 'one last auld dance' was held in the hall which was attended by over 350 members of the public.

"It certainly was a night never to be forgotten in the history of the Lodge," said Lodge Secretary Ivan Buchanan, adding: "Many a story was told on the night."

Work started on the new Orange Hall in early last year and now around 18 months later it will be officially opened on Friday, June 25.

"The Lodge membershave carried out 95 per cent of the work themselves, with the help of various tradesmen and experts to help and guide them along the way. The hours and hours of hard work have paid off and the members are extremely proud of their remarkable achievement," said Ivan.

"The new Hall will be used by the members of Barron LOL 627 and Barron RBP No 522, and also by the many other different organisations in the locality which will certainly make useof the hall, which will be open to all members of the community."

As our pictures show, the new Hall is of a modern design tailor-built to meet the needs of every user group.

The official opening on Friday next will begin at 7pm with a short parade from the junction of the Berryhill/Glencush Road which is the main Strabane to Donemana Road, and heading tothe Orange Hall, where the platform proceedings will get underway at 8.30pm.

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, Rt Wor Bro Robert Saulters, will carry out the official opening duties, while Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA will be among the guests and a very large turnout of Orangemen, Sisters and bands are expected to attend the event.

"The Lodge would like to takethis opportunity to invite all the Brethren, Sisters, bands and, most importantly, all sections of the community, to come along on the night and to enjoy what promises to be an unforgettable occassion. After theopening of the hall has been completed, supper will be served to all in attendance," Mr Buchanan said.

Related topics: