ULSTER BANK has “sincerely” apologised to the Orange Order for any offence that the bank’s support of the Down GAA football team may have caused the order’s members.
The Orange Order has accepted the apology and is now to seek Ulster Bank sponsorship for some Twelfth of July events next year.
Recently, grand secretary of the order Drew Nelson wrote to the bank complaining about staff members at its branch in Castlewellan wearing Down shirts ahead of the All-Ireland final against Cork, which the Ulster team lost.
He wrote to the branch manager saying that “given the recent display of encouragement for the County Down Gaelic team, representatives from the institution would be keen to meet with you to discuss how the bank can also engage with and support local Orange lodges in the Castlewellan area in terms of community development and sponsorship or support for mini-Twelfth or Twelfth of July related festivals in the near future”.
The branch manager responded saying he was “obviously aware of the discomfort” caused to Orange Order members as a result of the branch supporting the Down team.
Mr Nelson’s original complaint had generated a lot of interest and some heated exchanges on radio talks shows in Northern Ireland.
“I can assure you that we had no intention other than to celebrate their success in the All-Ireland championship. You will appreciate that Down’s first final appearance for 16 years generated a lot of interest, especially since a colleague based in our Newry branch plays for the team,” the manager added.
“If we failed to control our enthusiasm in participating with other businesses in Castlewellan’s ‘red and black’ celebrations, then I sincerely apologise . . . and any offence we have caused is entirely unintentional,” he said.
