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Belturbet Orange Hall, Co Cavan.

On Friday 14th August 1874 William Johnston, M. P. for Ballykilbeg, Belfast formally inaugurated the Orange Hall at the junction of Holborn Hill and Deanery Street. He was popularly known to the Protestants of this county as ‘The Star of the North.’ The hall was used by Loyal Orange Lodges 348 and 1367. It is a neat, substantial structure of brick and stone facings with several large rooms on the ground floor. There is a spacious apartment upstairs capable of accommodating upwards of one hundred people. The contractor for the building was Mr James Mc Lean, Killconny.

Mr Johnston arrived at Ballyhaise Railway Station, then called Belturbet Junction. His horse and carriage was escorted the four mile journey to Belturbet by district officers on horseback. About two miles outside the town a procession of many lodges each with its own banners and pipes and drums joined the group. The entire company paraded to the Market Square. They then returned to the Orange Hall. Mr Johnston declared the building open. The brethren then marched to an adjacent field, where a platform was constructed.

The assemblage at this time was said to number from seven to eight thousand. The chair was taken by Mr Johnston who gave a rousing speech. He was followed by Rev Taylor and Mr James Green, County. Grand Master of South Leeds, Ontario, Canada. The proceedings were very enthusiastic, orderly and attentive. The meeting quietly separated.

The last Orange walk to be held in Belturbet took place on the 12thAugust 1925. Sixty bands took part. The Market Square was later renamed The Diamond in Belturbet.