The Junior Orange
Association

The Junior Orange Association is considered by many to be the most important part of the Orange family. Catering for boys between the ages of 8 to 16, it provides a firm base in helping them understand the basic principles to the Reformed Faith and Orangeism.

Based on similar administrative structures to the senior movement there are 5 County Grand Lodges covering all counties in Northern Ireland.

Junior Lodges first operated in Belfast in the Last century but it was only at the end of World War 1 that an association of all these individual lodges was formed. At first it came under the control of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in 1925, the affairs being administered by an executive committee. In 1974, after continued expansion, the Executive Committee handed over the running of Junior Orangeism to the newly formed Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

Today the Association caters for many recreational activities such as football quizzes, darts, etc., and annual parades are organised by most Junior counties. Trips may be organised including to the ever popular destination of Warren House in Donaghadee adminstered by the McCrea Trust Fund.

The junior brethren of 1995 are the senior brethren of the 21st century. The Association has been pleased with men of vision and dedication who have taught brethren the Christian way of life, the importance of Prayer and regular attendance at their place of worship. Thanks to the devotion of many superintendents we are confident that the future of Orangeism is secure in the hands of these young men.

More recently Lodges to cater for Junior Sisters have been formed. They will most certainly provide the Loyal Orange Women with excellent recruits for years to come.