Ballyward Orange Hall completely refurbished to provide extra capacity for thriving membership in Rathfriland District Orange Order

Orange Order membership in Rathfriland area is surging to such an extent that an Orange Hall that had fallen into disrepair has been totally revamped to provide more capacity.

Ballyward Orange hall on the Castlewellan Road from Banbridge, was built in 1913 but had fallen into disuse some twenty years ago.

However, a massive parade of 1000 people and 18 bands is to celebrate its reopening on Tuesday.

"Twenty years ago was the last time it was actually officially used as a hall," said Rathfriland District Master Mark Graham.

Ballyward Orange Hall, near Castlewellan, had fallen into disrepair for 20 years but has now been fully rennovated.

"It had been used on and off just for small meetings but it had got into a bit of disrepair. The Rathfriland district took it over in the middle of last year.

"The roof was all refixed, the whole inside was gutted and refitted with new floors.

"It was all rebuilt and plastered inside and all painted. We also installed new toilets and the kitchen. It was basically a refurbishment of the whole place."

The official opening for Ballyward Lodge 761 is on Tuesday 2 July, and will be attended by the Grand Master Edward Stephenson, plus grand lodge officers and county officers.

"We are expecting a big crowd, with over 1000 people and 18 bands in the reopening parade."

The opening will also coincide with the 175th anniversary of a famous local event, the Battle of Dolly's Brae, a skirmish between local Orangemen and Ribbonmen which took place in 1849.

The district has covered the cost of the refurbishment to date – supported by volunteer workers - though a fundraising Big Breakfast and tractor run will also take place at the hall later this year.

"We have some 550 members in the district right now, it is really thriving," Mark said. "That is actually one of the main reasons the hall has been revamped and money piled into it, because we needed the use of another haul.

"There's also a junior ladies lodge being formed in the next few weeks in Rathfriland and they will also make use of it.

"It's going to be a local hub for the community and a Dolly's Brae historical centre."

Work has already begun on creating a timeline of local history in the hall interior.

"We also want to make it available for local community events or events like birthdays. We want it to be available as a hub for community life."

Asked why the Rathfriland district is so thriving, Mark said that the Covid lockdown seemed to be a significant factor.

"Afterwards people just wanted to get out of the house and flock to events that we were running.

"There have been all sorts of events, from Burns Nights, Steak and movie nights, table quizzes, tractor runs.

"The main thing is that the district is very active and everyone feels a part of it.

"Every lodge is looking out for each other.

"Membership in the junior lodges has surged by 70% since Covid. They were organising all sorts of tournaments and weekends away. So one lad would bring his brother and he would bring his cousin.

"It has just mushroomed.

"In the last two years membership of the senior lodge has grown 20% which is quite a lot. Plus we are just forming a women’s lodge and a junior orange lodge.”