Why were the activities of the Apprentice Boys a source of tension in Derry?

70% of the population of Derry is Catholic and 30% Protestant. Despite this, through a process of gerrymandering and discrimination, the city council has been dominated by unionist politicians since the foundation of Northern Ireland in 1920. The Apprentice Boys were a unionist body who engaged in triumphalist marches and for decades contributed to the domination of the city by unionists. In these circumstances it is hardly surprising that their activities caused tension in the city of Derry.

The Apprentice Boys of Derry was formed to commemorate the victory of the Williamite forces at the siege of Derry in 1688. Thirteen apprentice boys had shut the city’s gates in the face of advancing Catholic troops under the command of King James. The Apprentice Boys of Derry have two main parades in Derry each year, one parade along the city'’ walls on 12 August and a commemorative closing of the gates in December.

The Apprentice Boys parades were a reminder to Protestants of a Protestant victory over Catholic forces. At the same time the parades were also a reminder to Catholics of a defeat and of ongoing discrimination and gerrymandering in the city. The practice during parades of throwing coins from the city’s walls into the Catholic Bogside area added further to Catholic anger and opposition to the Apprentice Boys.

Given the level of discrimination in Derry and the use of gerrymandering by Unionists, it is not surprising that Derry became one of the focal points for the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. When the RUC attacked a Civil Rights march in Derry in October 1968 relations between the two communities reached an all-time low. The continued triumphalist marches of the Apprentice Boys added to this tension eventually culminating in the Battle of the Bogside in 1969.

Realising that the Apprentice Boys parade in August 1969 could lead to violence some Nationalists attempted to negotiate with the Apprentice Boys in an attempt to diffuse tensions. However, the Apprentice Boys rejected any attempt at finding a compromise out of hand, leading to further anger among the Catholic population. By going ahead with the parade as normal the Apprentice Boys were provoking a reaction from the Catholic population.

The RUC had blocked the route of the Apprentice Boys parade from the Catholic population of the Bogside. As the Apprentice Boys parade continued the frustration of Catholic youths grew until it eventually spilled over into rioting with the RUC. Rioting continued in the Bogside for several days as the Catholic residents attempted to prevent the RUC and the B-Specials from entering the area. The Apprentice Boys openly supported the RUC and the B-Specials with one leading Apprentice Boys member commenting ‘we have to show them who’s master’. The Battle of the Bogside resulted in the deployment of British troops as the RUC and B-Specials were no longer able to deal with the situation.

During the following two years, 1970 and 1971, the Apprentice Boys parades were confined to the Protestant Waterside area of Derry. This caused added tension as the Apprentice Boys resented not being allowed to have their usual parades. This tension was added to in 1973 when the IRA blew up the Walker Monument where the Apprentice Boys traditionally burnt the effigy of the traitor Lundy during the ceremonial closing of the city’s gates. Controversy continued every time the Apprentice boys paraded in the city.

As the annual parades of the Apprentice Boys and the Orange Order were causing increasing tension and disturbances the British government appointed a Parades Commission to adjudicate on controversial parades. However, the Apprentice Boys refused to enter talks with the Parades Commission and the problems continued.

Some easing of tensions did occur in 1989 when the new nationalist controlled city council declared the events of 1689 were part of the history of Derry and should be commemorated. In 1995 the Apprentice Boys were once again allowed to walk along the city walls. However, this time there was no triumphalism. The parades were no longer accompanied by insulting songs or coin throwing.

Throughout the entire period of the existence of Northern Ireland the Apprentice Boys parades have been a source of tension in Derry. They contributed to the discrimination of the Catholic community and reinforced Unionist domination of the city. However, the situation has now fundamentally altered, Nationalists control the city council and a compromise has been reached in relation to the conduct of the Apprentice Boys parades. The same cannot be said for other controversial parades around Northern Ireland.