04/02/2024
Northern Ireland - ๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐๐ฏ ๐๐ฒ๐ช๐ท๐ฝ๐ผ
The Apprentice Boys of Derry
The Apprentice Boys of Derry is a Christian, historical and cultural organisation with a worldwide membership of over 10,000. The Association was established in 1714 by Col. Mitchelburne assisted by those who had survived the siege and believed that some form of a society should be created to remember the experiences that occurred. Mitchelburne died in 1721 and consequently the organisation became dormant, however the events of the siege continued to be commemorated by parades, firing of cannon and public expressions. In 1814 the Association was reformed by Benjamin Darcus and continues unbroken to the present day.
The headquarters of the Association is established in Londonderry. 8 Parent Clubs, are based in the city, reflecting the 8 regiments formed during the siege to defend the walls. These clubs are central to the Association. Branch Clubs are based throughout Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada and lately a new Club has been constituted in Australia. The Association continues to expand and develop with additional Branch Clubs planned to open in other locations very soon.
The purpose of the Association is to commemorate the 1689 Siege of Londonderry and in particular the anniversaries of the Shutting of the Gates and the Relief of the City, after a protracted siege of 105 days, when Catholic James II of England and Ireland and VII of Scotland laid siege to the walled city. Londonderry and Enniskillen where the last remaining Protestant bastions in Ireland. Jamesโs strategy was to conqueror all of Ireland, set sail to Scotland where he would join his many supporters and march towards London to regain his throne of the Kingdom. This plan was unfilled as he never conquered the small but strategically located city of Londonderry or the town of Enniskillen.
The Siege of Londonderry began in December 1688 when 13 apprentice boys shut the gates of the city against a regiment of twelve hundred Jacobite soldiers, commanded by Alexander MacDonnell. Following this rebellion in Londonderry, the Duke of Tyrconnel assembled a large but poorly organised Jacobite force commanded by Sir Richard Hamilton to march north against the Ulster Protestants. The deposed King James II, who had travelled from France to Ireland in March, took charge with the aid of two French generals. Arriving at the gates of Londonderry on 18 April 1689, he was greeted by a cry of "No Surrender!" The siege proper then commenced which lasted 105 days. The siege was lifted on 28 July 1689 (Old Style) when two armed merchant ships, the Mountjoy and the Phoenix, sailed up the River Foyle and breached a timber boom which had been stretched across the river, blocking supplies to the city. The ships' approach was protected from the Jacobite besiegers by cannon fire from the frigate HMS Dartmouth, under Captain (and future Admiral) John Leake. The Mountjoy rammed and broke the barricading boom at Culmore Fort and the ships sailed through, unloading many tons of food to relieve the starving inhabitants. Three days later on the 1st August, the besieging forces set fire to their camps and departed. It is recorded by historians that inside the walls around 8,000 people had died of starvation, disease and injury. During the final days of the siege, the inhabitants survived by eating cats, dogs, rats, and other vermin.
To commemorate the events of the siege, the Apprentice Boys Association hold three main annual celebrations. These are the commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates on the first Saturday in December, in memory of the action of the original apprentice boys; the Relief of Londonderry, on the second Saturday in August, in memory of the lifting of the siege, and Easter Monday, when Jamesโ army returned to encircle Londonderry on the 18th 1689, having been denied access four months earlier when the original apprentices shut the gates on him.
On the eve of the parades a ceremonial cannon is fired at midnight to herald the celebrations and bonfires are built and burned in many of the Protestant housing estates in the city. In recent years, the celebrations have transformed into a week-long Maiden City Festival in August and is accompanied by a series of diverse cultural events including bluegrass music, Ulster Scots music and tuition, art exhibitions and events staged by other local minority communities. During the December celebrations it is traditional to set alight an effigy of Robert Lundy, the siege traitor. The first recorded burning of an effigy took place in 1788 outside the Town Hall in the Diamond to celebrate the centenary of the Shutting of the gates. The custom continued from 1832 at Walkerโs Pillar, until its destruction by the IRA in 1973. The Pillar, situated at Royal Bastion on the city walls, was a testimonial to the Rev. George Walker joint Governor of the city during the siege and an inspirational leader of the besieged during their time of trouble. The third celebration is held annually on Easter Monday and is hosted by Amalgamated Committees in venues throughout Ulster.
The first celebrations of the Relief of Derry took place on Sunday 28th July 1689, when the starving citizens crowded the walls to welcome the relief ships. The first organised celebrations took place on Sunday 8th August 1689 when a thanksgiving service was held in St Columb's Cathedral. Subsequent commemorations have followed that precedent.
The Apprentice Boys role in the celebrations became more important in the early nineteenth century which saw the establishment of the Apprentice Boys of Derry Club in 1814 and the No Surrender Club in 1824. New clubs were formed over the following years. In December 1861, the various clubs agreed to associate together under a governing body known as the General Committee. This Committee conducts the main business of the Association and establishes the rules and regulations for the Associated Clubs of Apprentice Boys of Derry.
General Committee organise the main celebrations which continue in the traditional manner with the firing of the siege cannon, (today a small replica is used), the ringing of the cathedral bells, the hoisting of the Crimson Flags, and the laying of wreaths in memory of those who sacrificed their lives. In December they continue with the burning of an effigy of Robert Lundy (the Governor of Derry who had sought to negotiate a surrender of the city with King James during the siege) and the service of thanksgiving in St Columb's Cathedral.
The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall was opened in 1877 and is dedicated to the memory of the thirteen apprentice boys who closed the city gates in 1688. In 1937 the hall was extended along Society Street. The extension is dedicated to the memory of those who died in the Great War of 1914โ1918. The hall is an architecturally important building within the walled city. It now facilitates the headquarters of the association, with its office and debating chamber.
All new Parent Club members and enrolled Branch Club members are initiated in the hall. Other organisations such as the Orange Institution, the Ladies Orange Association and Royal Black Preceptory have separate accommodation in the building. There is also a social club for members of the Loyal Orders. A recent additional attraction is the newly opened Siege Museum constructed adjacent to the hall. The museum officially opened in March 2016 and is available for public visits Monday to Saturday, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
The heritage centre will enable the association to convey the story of its rich history to a new and wider audience. An opportunity for the many tourists who visit the city and its historic walls to learn more about the bravery and devotion of our forefathers, many of whom paid the supreme sacrifice to create and defend civil and religious freedom for everyone.
The members of the Associated Clubs of Apprentice Boys of Derry will proudly commemorate this fortitude and resilience by continuing in the future with our celebration of these significant and memorable events.
www.asauk.org
Registered Charity NIC108368
