A county Armagh Loyal Orange Lodge has announced it’s the biggest it’s ever been in its over two centuries of existence… leading them to state that their market town is now officially “the most orange place in the world!”
Markethill District LOL No. 10 made the announcement via their Facebook page after completing their annual “returns”.
The district lodge encompasses a total of twelve private lodges which collectively make up the new statistics.
Informing their members – and those outside the institution – of their findings, the lodge said: “For those outside the ranks of the Orange Institution, we have just been through the annual ‘returns’ period – that time of the year when the books get done and alongside a lot of bills paid, the tallies are made of membership.
“New members, returned members, transferred members, deaths, suspensions, etc… All combining to give us a picture of where the Institution is as we get close to entering 2026.
“The good news in general is that Orangeism has been growing, and over the entirety of its many jurisdictions the numbers are up! A trend equally mimicked in the Junior Boys and Girls Institutions and the ladies Institution.
“For the purpose of this small post however here’s the District 10 news… Markethill District Loyal Orange Lodge, encompassing its twelve private lodges, is the biggest it has ever been in its over two centuries of existence!”
The Lodge explained that their district – centred on the small town of Markethill, which at the last census recorded a population of just over 1,600 people, and its rural hinterlands – now boasts an “astounding” total of 559 members.
They added: “It’s pretty much official- proportionately to it’s catchment population, Markethill is the most Orange place in the world!
“If that’s not enough the maths has another astounding statistic… in Markethill District amongst those eligible for membership, you are more likely to be an Orangeman than not!
“Don’t let anyone kid you Orangeism is a dying culture or community. Far, far from it…
“Get off the side-line’s,
‘get out of the rain’;
Get into the ranks….
Join District 10!”
