Battle of the Boyne

The Battle of the Boyne holiday is also commonly known as Orangemen’s Day and the Twelfth. It’s a commemoration of the Glorious Revolution in 1688 and the culmination of that revolution in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. In 2026, Battle of the Boyne falls on Sunday 12 July. The holiday will be on Monday 12 July in 2027. At the Battle of the Boyne, the troops of William of Orange defeated those of James II and this began the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. Some of the political divisiveness of this holiday has been lost in recent decades, and celebrations have changed heavily as a result. Revolutionaries who supported William of Orange sought to usurp the Catholic monarchy that was supported by followers of James II in the late 17th century. They were able to ultimately overthrow King James II and march his forces into Ireland, where they were defeated in Oldbridge, County Meath. Jacobite forces who had supported James II viewed the war as a stand for Irish sovereignty. They also felt that it was fought to defend religious freedom for members of the Catholic Church. Williamite forces viewed the war as an opportunity to stabilise Protestant and English rule in Ireland. Many of them were afraid that their lives and property would be in jeopardy if James’ forces remained in control of Ireland. Contemporary sources stated that the Battle of the Boyne took place on July 1, 1690. The date was revised to July 11 due to changes in the dating system used in European countries. Ironically the battle is actually commemorated in modern days on July 11, which has lead to many people simply calling the celebration the Twelfth. Many people have viewed the holiday as relatively controversial due to the complex political background that the Battle of the Boyne carries with it. Nevertheless, things have changed quite a bit. Modern celebrations tend to downplay politics and instead present the holiday as a cultural event that welcomes tourists. Celebrations in the modern era generally start the night before, which is often referred to as the Eleventh Night in Northern Ireland. Large bonfires are often lit on this night. While some sectarian activities still accompany these bonfires in many areas, there have been numerous attempts to make the event more family-friendly as well as to cut down on the pollution generated by the bonfires. Some of these fires are fed by a combination of wooden pallets and rubber tires. They can often reach well over 100 feet tall. Parades are generally scheduled for the next morning. Members of the Orange Order organise many of these parades, which is a Protestant fraternal organisation that’s has its headquarters in Ulster. The holiday used to be known as Orangemen’s Day because of the large number of parades that this group organises. Orangemen typically wear a dark suit with an orange sash when on parade. They might also put on white gloves and a traditional bowler hat for the event. There are several other ways that people mark the occasion besides the marches: Numerous efforts to make the holiday more inclusive have really started to change the celebration of the Twelfth. Some politically neutral customs are becoming popular now, such as releasing balloons. One purple or orange balloon is released for every year since 1690. While some people continue to see the celebrations as divisive, they’re likely to become comparatively relaxed.