Markethill District LOL No 10 took to social media to share the news.
“Markethill District Loyal Orange Lodge, encompassing its 12 private lodges, is the biggest it has ever been in its over two centuries existence,” the organisation said.
The group feels that, proportionate to the population of their village, the spike in Orange membership makes them stand out among other places in Northern Ireland.
“Centred on the small County Armagh Town of Markethill (at the last census with a population of just over 1,600) and its rural hinterlands, District 10 has the quite astounding total of 559 members in its twelve lodges,” they added.
”It’s pretty much official – proportionately to it’s catchment population, Markethill is the most Orange place in the world.
“If that’s not enough, the maths has another astounding statistic… in Markethill District amongst those eligible for membership, you are more likely to be an Orangeman than not.”
In the post the organisation explained they have recently reviewed their membership.
“For those outside the ranks of the Orange Institution, we have just been through the annual ‘returns’ period- that time of the year when the books get done and alongside a lot of bills paid, the tallies are made of membership.
“New members, returned members, transferred members, deaths, suspensions- all combining to give us a picture of where the Institution is as we get close to entering 2026.”
Mark Black and his sons, Thomas (left), four, and Adam, 10, from Markethill played Lambeg drums outside their home during the Clap for Carers applause amid the pandemic (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
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The group claimed the unofficial feat as positive news, not only for the future of Orangeism in Co Armagh, but Northern Ireland as a whole. “The good news in general is that Orangeism has been growing, and over the entirety of its many jurisdictions the numbers are up,” they added.
“A trend equally mimicked in the Junior Boys and Girls Institutions and the ladies Institution.
“Don’t let anyone kid you Orangeism is a dying culture or community. Far, far from it.”