The document discusses the history of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, a Protestant organization that commemorates the 1689 Siege of Derry. It describes how in 1688, Protestants fled to Derry to escape Catholic King James II. In 1689, when the governor wished to surrender Derry, 13 apprentice boys closed the gates, starting a 105-day siege. The apprentice boys' parades in Derry became controversial and helped spark The Battle of Bogside in 1969, marking the start of The Troubles. The parades were then banned but restrictions were later lifted.

1. Case Study:
The Apprentice Boys of Derry

2. • Between 1688 and 1691 the War of the Three Kings occurred
when the Protestant William of Orange was attempting to
overthrow the Catholic King James II to take over power of
Britain and Ireland.
• During that time Protestants fled to the walled city of Derry to
get away from King James and his army.
• The Siege of Derry lasted from December 1688 to August
1689.
• The siege began when King James arrived outside the walls of
the city to take control of it

3. • When the governor of the city, Lundy, wished to surrender,
thirteen young boys training to be apprentices went against
his orders and closed the gates of the city on the Catholic
army on December 18th shouting “no surrender”.
• After 105 days of siege, involving hunger and disease, the
siege was lifted on August 12th by the arrival of relief ships
from Britain.
• Ever since, Protestants of Derry have drawn inspiration from
the victory.

4. Why did they march?
• The Apprentice Boys commemorate The Siege
of Derry that took place in 1689
• It was a siege in which William of Orange (A
protestant) defeated King James II (A catholic)

5. Derry
• 70% Catholic
• Despite this the Protestants had a control over Derry up to the 1960’s
due to gerrymandering
• While the ABOD parades were a reminder of their victory over
Catholics; it was equally a reminder to Catholics of defeat, and of
current discrimination and gerrymandering.
• The 30 % Protestant minority were relieved to have thousands of
Apprentice Boys joining them in Derry twice a year so for a day or
two at least they didn't feel threatened or outnumbered.

6. Parades
• They hold 2 every year:
• Dec 18th: The parade which takes place each year in Derry
celebrates the closing of the town gates and the start of the
siege.
• August 12th: Help coming to Derry is celebrated and just like in
1690 a parade around the walls of the City celebrates the end
of the siege. They marched and sang songs

7. Parades cause controversy
• The August 12th march was controversial as the protestant
Apprentice Boys marched along the city walls and often insults
and pennies were thrown down into the poor unemployed
Catholic Bogside area below. This never really caused bother
until the Troubles were breaking out in the late 1960’s
• 1968: After a NICRA march was attacked with batons in Derry in
October tensions were high.

8. • August 12th 1969: “The Battle of the Bogside”
15,000 ABOD marched through Derry, some
marchers threw pennies from the walls down
into the Bogside. Bogside Catholics then threw
stones and petrol bombs back. Rioting began
between Catholic youths and RUC for 2 days.
Eventually the British army was called in.
Many consider “The Battle of the Bogside” to
be the real start of the violence and Troubles

9. ABOD in the 1970’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s
• 1970/71: ABOD marches banned
• 1972-1980’s They were only allowed march in the Protestant
Waterside area
• 1973: IRA blew up the Walker monument, this was there they
burned a dummy of Lundy on the Dec 18th parade every year
(sign of IRA hatred of ABOD)
• 1989: 300 year anniversary of the Siege of Derry. Derry City
Council( now Catholic controlled) allowed ABOD to march
around city walls as the Siege was a part of history for
everyone in Derry.
• The attitude of ABOD had changed too; they no longer threw
coins or sang insulting songs.