Dave,
It appears to be as you say, except Orangemen do not consider themselves Irish. They may have been born there, probably their ancestors were also born there, but you will find very few who will openly admit to being Irish, unless they leave and go to Canada, Australia or other parts and then they are as Irish as anybody else..
They have been a priviliged class since the state was set up, the majority they claim to have is an artificial majority, they see the writing on the wall and sooner or later will realize that they are a minority in most parts of the six counties.
If they don't change soon they will leave a legacy to their descendants of being a hated minority in the new Ireland that will come, and come sooner than most expect.
Just read some of their responses to recent changes regarding housing, employment etc., what should be considered basic civil rights for catholics are referred to as concessions. Even little children going to school in Ardoyne are asked to walk an extra mile to gain entry to the school rather than walk past a few orange houses, and yet they want the right to parade down the Garvaghy Road with their sashes and bands playing anti-catholic tunes.
They better waken up and do it soon. I believe that many Protestants realize this, and all protestants are not automatically orangemen by the way. When the time comes for Ireland to be united, you can bet your boots that the doctors, lawyers and big farmers will not be on the streets fighting. But the die-hards from the Shankill, Tigers Bay and a few other areas will and there are still many guns and explosive devices in these areas, that is one reason why the IRA cannot give up all their weapons,
Another reason is that handing over weapons is a sign of surrender by a defeated force, and that is not the case, The Provo IRA agreed to a ceasefire and have adhered to it in the face of provocation. They did not agree to a surrender. The decommissoning of weapons was part of the agreement, the removal of military bases in south Armagh and other parts was also a part of the agreement, the new policing system was another part. All parts have to be implemented, but it looks like a case of " You do it first" and this will not fly.
History has shown that the Irish cannot trust the British, the nationalists cannot trust the police, and that is the real problem.
I wish the guns were destroyed, and I mean all guns, nationalist guns, loyalist guns, police guns and I wish that the loyalist community will grasp civil rights for what they are, and they are not concessions, they are rights.
Just last week Davie Jones a counsellor in the Portadown region met with the parades commission as a representative of the whole community to overturn the decision to reroute the orange parade returning from Drumcree Church. 42% of his constituents are nationalists, what sort of representation is that ?.
All parades, loyalists and nationalist alike should be banned for at least 10 years, maybe then we can have a united parade in an atmosphere of fun for all, turn it all into one big happy Mardi Gras type of celebration without the religious overtones, It would be good for tourism and everyone will have a great time as friends and a laugh at they way their ancestors used to fight among themselves ?, IT could happen .