Omagh 12th address calls for unity within Unionism

UNIONISTS have been urged to “unite in strength” against the Brexit Protocol and Irish unification.

Cowds who gathered in Campsie Playing Fields earlier today as part of Omagh’s July 12 parades heard the call from a number of speakers.

The Orange marches, which involved around 60 bands from the Omagh, Strabane, Sixmilecross, Fintona, Newtownstewart and Killen districts, drew thousands of people.

Following a three-mile march through the town, the parades returned to the Campsie Playing Fields where the crowd was addressed by several prominent Orangemen.

Deputy County Grand Master, Wor Bro Derek Reaney, spoke about the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He identified fractures within unionism as a problem in need of address, and called for those present to work towards “a more unified unionism.”

“We call for all unionist politicians to put country before party on this and other key issues of common cause, and work forth to maximise the number of unionist candidates at every election,“ said Mr Reaney.

“The current situation created by the introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol is a mess which has the potential to weaken the union, and pursue an all-Ireland economic agenda, which in turn is a mere stepping stone to a united Ireland.”

Mr Reaney then began to dissect what he sees as the composite parts of the Protocol problem.

“A British prime minister and government who have proved that they cannot be trusted to keep their word.

“A European Union who seek to punish the United Kingdom for having the cheek to leave their club.

“An Irish government, along with nationalism and republicanism, seeking to advance their cause of Irish unification, aided and abetted by the United States administration.

“And, finally, and it grieves me to say this, but, sadly, political unionism, which has without doubt made strategic errors over the last few years.”

Imploring unionists to take the issue of the Protocol seriously, he said, “You might say the Protocol is not really affecting your life, but in the long-term the Protocol has the potential to affect your life, your family’s way of life, your culture, your identity and eventually your nationality.

“Let us not just sit back and leave the future of the union to the politicians.”