West Donegal gathers in solidarity with Garvaghy Road - Donegal News

WEST Donegal residents gathered to show their support for the residents of Garvaghy Road at a solidarity demonstration in Croithlí.

THE communities of west Donegal gathered to show their support for the residents of Garvaghy Road at a solidarity demonstration in Croithlí.

Residents of Garvaghy Road in Portadown have been protesting against a planned march by the Orange Order down the predominantly-nationalist road.

Independent Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig attended the event at Droichead Croithlí on Saturday.

“It was great to see the solidarity, the turnout,” he said. “It’s always important to show solidarity and it was very clear that people are very concerned about the Orange Order’s attempt to march in a nationalist community.

“We’ve seen obviously what happened in the 90s, 21 people were murdered.”

He added: “It’s clear that the response – not alone the 32 counties – right across Europe and other parts of the world, for example even in Palestine and Gaza there have been messages of solidarity being sent. And these messages of solidarity are hugely important.”

An appeal by the Garvaghy Road residents against a ruling to allow the Orange Order to march on the route is underway today (Monday).

An Orange Order parade was recently scheduled for the Garvaghy Road in Drumcree, near Portadown in Co Armagh.

It was the first time in 28 years that the controversial parade was permitted by the Parades Commission since it ruled, not long after it received statutory powers in 1998, that the Orange Order could not walk the route.

The march was permitted this year when a court ruled that a “sloppy” error was made by the Commission, which is the independent body that rules on parades in the North.

However, Garvaghy Road residents and protesters have strongly opposed the march down the route, which saw immense volatility and loss of life during the 1990s.

Attempts to end the stand-off have failed, with the Orange Order refusing to accept an agreement.

Last week, an emergency motion in support of Garvaghy Road residents was passed by Donegal County Council.

Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry McMonagle proposed the motion and thanked the councillors for their support.

“I welcome the unanimous support of Donegal County Council for this motion and the clear message it sends that communities should be able to live in peace and free from sectarian discrimination and harassment,” he said.

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