The 2012 Sham Fight at Scarva

The annual clash between King William and King James and the massive procession through the beautiful village is now firmly established as a major tourist attraction.

Senior representatives from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland attended the event last year to see the spectacle for themselves.

The Sham Fight is organised by the Royal Black Institution, who carried out a survey at the event in 2011.

A team of 15 researchers interviewed 559 people who were spectators along different parts of the parade route.

Of those interviewed, 52.8% came from Co. Armagh, 24.3% from Co. Down, 10.7% from Antrim, 5% from Co. Londonderry and 1.1% came from outside Northern Ireland.

Twenty six per cent of the male spectators interviewed were in the Orange Order and 6% of the women belonged to the Women’s Orange Institution. Twelve per cent of the men watching the parade were in the Royal Black Institution.

Only 5% of spectators interviewed were making their first trip to the Sham Fight and 63% had been there every year for the previous five years. Ninety seven per of people said they would return in 2012.

When asked which part of the day they enjoyed the most 67% said the parade, 18% the social aspect and 10% the music.

Eighty two per cent had attended a Twelfth demonstration on the day before the Sham Fight.

The Sovereign Grand Master, Millar Farr, said the survey had given the Royal Black Institution a lot of valuable information.

“We know the crowd at Scarva is huge but we had no real evidence where everyone came from and what they thought of the event. We decided to commission a survey and the results were fascinating.

“For the first time ever we now have a very real idea of where the spectators come from, how they get to Scarva and what they think of the whole day. We got information about the parade itself and other important issues such as parking, refreshments and even toilet provision.

“All of this built up a detailed picture of the whole day at Scarva, from the spectators’ point of view. We have been able to make a number of minor changes to make the experience even more enjoyable.

“We were delighted that 97% of those interviewed last year, said they would come back in 2012. There can’t be many big events which get such an approval rating as that.”

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said: “This year offers unprecedented opportunities for tourism and, along with the three flagship Twelfth of July parades in Enniskillen, Carrickfergus and Ballynahinch,  the Scarva Sham fight is another important part of our NI 2012 offering.

“With 100,000 people expected to attend, this unique spectacle is the single largest one-day tourism event in Northern Ireland and it really has put the beautiful village of Scarva on the map. The Royal Black Institution have put together an excellent family-friendly event, which gives tourists from home and abroad an insight into the culture and history of Northern Ireland and I have no doubt that its visitor numbers will continue to grow.”

On Friday, July 13, the procession leaves the assembly field on the Gilford Road at 11.15am. Eighty Preceptories of the Royal Black Institution will take part in the procession, joined by a wide range of bands to suit all tastes. Tens of thousands of people will line the one mile route to the Demesne at the Loughbrickland end of the village. Roughan Silver Band will lead the procession.

Earlier in the day, at 9.45am, members of Scarva Royal Black Preceptory will lay a wreath at the village memorial to local members of the security forces who were murdered in the Troubles.

The Sham Fight is a unique event on the Northern Ireland calendar and has been taking place in Scarva for a very long time. The Parliamentary Select Committee of 1835 refers to July the previous year and reports that Orangemen had marched to Scarva and used the canal as a representation of the Boyne Water and that the ‘opposing armies’ consisted of about 50 apiece.

The organisation of the Sham Fight is the responsibility of Royal Black Perceptory 1000, who work painstakingly to ensure that everything goes according to plan. Each year there are 3,000 members of the Royal Black Institution on parade, accompanied by about 80 bands. King William is played by John Adair and King James by Colin Cairns, both members of RBP 1000.

At the top of the field where the fight is staged, is the chestnut tree where King William tied his horse on the way to the Battle of the Boyne and where his troops rested. At one time Ireland could boost of half a dozen Sham Fights. One of the most famous was in the small west Cork town of Bandon, once a Protestant stronghold. However, the Sham Fight at Bandon, like all the others except Scarva have disappeared.

Only war-time brought the great celebrations to a temporary standstill, and even then a handful of locals in the Black Institution travelled in the years between 1940 and 1944 to walk the processional route to maintain the tradition.

A religious service will be held at 2pm when the preacher will be Rev. John Batchelor, Co. Armagh Grand Chaplain. The chairman for the platform proceedings will be William Scott, Co. Armagh Grand Master and the speakers will be Sovereign Grand Master Millar Farr and William Hek, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master from Scotland.

The Royal Black Institution is one of the loyal orders and was formed in 1797. The World Centre of The Institution is Brownlow House, in Lurgan.

Three resolutions will be read at the platform proceedings.

First: Faith

As Sir Knights of the Royal Black Institution gathered with our families, friends and supporters, we thank Almighty God for this opportunity to demonstrate for our Reformed Faith, which is Bible-based and Christ-centred.

This year we particularly remember with gratitude our forefathers who signed Ulster’s Solemn League and Covenant one hundred years ago. We acknowledge that in their time of difficulty our forefathers committed themselves to rely on God in their hour of need.

Therefore today, in this age of apathy, materialism, secularism and spiritual indifference, we call our people to respond to God’s covenant promise in 2nd Chronicles ch 7 v. 14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

Second: Loyalty

We are privileged today to re-affirm our loyalty to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

It is particularly fitting that in this Diamond Jubilee Year, we express our heartfelt thanks to Her Majesty for the manner in which she has led our country over the past six decades.

She has reigned through difficult and turbulent times but has given us a wonderful example in steadfastness, loyalty and family life with Prince Philip. We must be equally loyal and steadfast in return.

The result will be a better and stronger United Kingdom for all.

Third: Constitutional

In this decade of centenaries we affirm our responsibility within our nation to uphold the Reformed Faith and practice it in our civic life. We strongly urge our governments to resist further secularisation of our nation’s laws, (especially the sanctity of marriage as understood according to Holy Scripture) which have been derived from the truths upheld at the time of the Reformation. As a nation, we ignore such truths at our peril.