I grew up right in the middle of it: tucked between parades, lodges and the kind of tribal pride that can turn neighbour against neighbour. To be fair, culture on its own is fine, but where it drags hatred and division in behind it, you can't pretend it's harmless. I've seen it at home and out on the streets, and it leaves you divided in ways that don't make sense.

Confused upbringing

My da was heavily involved on one side, and my mum carried the crown at the front of her lodge on the other. You couldn't dream up a more mixed childhood. It sounds daft but that contradiction shaped me. There were parades on both sides of the water and the house was full of conflicting loyalties. I learned early that the rituals and the pageantry come with a nasty aftertaste when they demand you hate someone just for where they're from.

Why I walked away

In my mid to late teens I made a choice. With a strong mind I saw through the nonsense and walked away from the Protestant side of things. How could I sing hateful songs or play drums in marches when my family are mixed and my wee brother's name is Derry? Where's the sense in that? It wasn't a dramatic public statement — just a quiet refusal to take part in behaviours that felt backward and damaging.

What needs to change

Truth is, sectarian parades and antagonism don't belong in modern society. If culture is to survive it has to be stripped of the violence and the hatred. Shorter marches, kept within communities, sounds reasonable — but both sides seem stubborn about that. I like to think we've moved on a lot in the last 40 years and that, in another 40, we'll move further. For now it's on us to call out what divides and refuse to be part of it.

Written by Stevie_G_new: 28 July 2026

Tags: tactics