Though one
of the most famous holidays in Ireland is St. Patrick’s Day, one of the most
historically significant is Orangemen’s Day, which is commemorated on the 12th
of July. Orangemen’s Day is celebrated in Northern Ireland each year to
remember the glorious victory in the Battle of Boyne.
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| King William III at the Battle of the Boyne, 1 July 1690 |
Brief history
The Battle
of the Boyne dates back to the 17th century. On July 1, 1690, the
Catholic King James fought against the Protestant King William across the River
Boyne. This is located near Drogheda at Ireland’s eastern coast.
William won
the battle, resulting in the Protestant rule in Ireland as well as in England.
This is one of the most significant and most well-known battles in British-Irish
history.
Outwardly,
some say that it is a battle with its roots in religion since it was waged
between two kings who belonged to two different churches. However, others see
it as a sectarian and ethnic conflict.
