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150th Anniversary Celebrations
A 150th birthday is a watershed well worth special recognition and the officers and members of the Mitchelburne Club
2004 confidently plan to honour the century and a half that has passed since the revival of their club with a host of
events and publications. The Club is fortunate to have within its ranks some who celebrated the centenary in 1954;
they have witnessed the Mitchelburne Club’s progress over the intervening years and are now preparing to celebrate
this important year. Since 1954 a few of the branch clubs have ceased to function, due primarily to demographic trends
in urban areas and ethnic cleansing of Protestants in rural border areas. Many others have emerged however, to ensure
that the Mitchelburne Club is one of the largest in the Apprentice Boys Association, with 26 Branch Clubs.
The Parent Club has experienced many highs and lows and has reached this truly auspicious occasion with a Club that represents all age groups and complexities of Loyalist opinion. The onset of the IRA war of extermination in 1969 ironically heralded a phenomenal growth in Club membership and this welcome trend has continued throughout ‘The Troubles’. The latter have dramatically and savagely intruded on Club life with the brutal murder of vibrant community activist and Vice President, Bro. Cecil McKnight, in late June 1991, followed by the slaughter of young Bro. Gary Lynch on the eve of ‘The 12th’ of the same year. Several of the Brethren who have contributed to Mitchelburne’s half century, have sadly not been spared to enjoy the celebrations of 2004. Readers will appreciate that the late Bro. Albert McCartney, formerly General Treasurer, qualifies for particular mention. Bro. McCartney’s leadership and dedication has greatly enhanced the Apprentice Boys for much of the second half of the 20th century. The Club participated fully in the tercentennial celebrations in 1988/89 with Mitchelburne President, Bro. Tony Crowe, acting as chairman during a hectic year of pageantry, lectures and parades. The Mitchelburne has an equally ambitious schedule planned for 2004. The legendary leadership of Colonel Mitchelburne, both during and after the siege, continues to inspire into the 21st century. It was Mitchelburne, who formed the original Apprentice Boys Association in 1714, thus 2004 will mark another important anniversary, the 209th anniversary of the foundation of one of the oldest extant association in the world. |
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