The same in Cavan and in Donegal itself.
The Rossnowlagh Orange walk is a perfectly legitimate cultural expression. Never any hassle. Never any trouble.
In the summer of '94, I saw an Orange Picnic/Fete once in a wee village outside Clones called Kileevan - our club (from England) were playing Gaelic football at the GAA club right next door. It was 'policed' by two fat Guards, sat on a wall working on their Farmer's suntans - and making themselves fatter by accepting buns from passing Orangemen and their families. Passing locals beeped their horns and waved. Proper order.
Go the same distance from Clones in the other direction - crossing the border, into Newtownbutler or Lisnakea - and it was a completely different story. Dozens of riot-clad, armed RUC men complete with a dozen or so armoured jeeps were a pre-requisite.
Partition is the problem.
*for the benefit of those who may not be aware, Monaghan, Donegal and Cavan are the three Ulster counties that remained south of the Border after partition - abandoned by their 'comrades' in the six counties because the number of resident taigs made the arithmetic for 'A Protestant State for a Protestant people' somewhat challenging.
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If it was a case of on some "important date", make wee bonfires and have a few sparklers or fireworks for to amuse the children, and some lemonade and beer and stuff and possibly baked potatoes for when the evening grows cold, well, that would seem more like a harmless bit of fun.
