Wise up Beano,
The AOH are a bunch of conservative (with a big C) arsewipes that have no idea about how modrn life works. Likewise the Orange Order. Do not think for one second that the two organisations are comparable. The OO can pparalyse Ni if and when they so desire,as has been seen on many occasions recently. The AOH are just a bunch of ballbags.
My point is that the OO have the power to change the life of everyone who lives in NI, by having the 12th fortnight imposed on everyone.As is the case I think you must agree. It is totally wrong that a narrow minded sectarian cult should have the power to close down NI, and dictate to everyone else when they should take their holidays.
Stop fuckin yappin about the AOH, they mean nothing to anyone outside of NY. Take the fuckin plank out of you r own eye before you start looking for a splinter in mine. Amadan

12th fortnight. Imposed? Really?

I'd get two days if I'd started my new job. My girlfriend doesn't even get the days off as her company's customers are based all over the UK.

Also, I wasn't comparing the two in the OP - that said, sections of the AOH are clearly even more bigoted than sections of the Orange Order.

Con the AOH are ardent supporters of Sinn Fein whose armed wing did significantly more damage to Northern Ireland over the years than a bunch of men in Bowler hats ever did; their support, financially and by "other means", I'm sure has contributed enough to our conflict to warrant a cautious regard.

Nobody's guilt free, all sections of the community have bigotry to deal with, but people insist on fanning the flames of intolerance - even those who live in New York and have probably never even spoken to a genuine Irishman let alone a Protestant one.

Take a breath of fresh air guys.
I worked the 12th, in a bar, in Enniskillen. Site of the biggest OrangeFest outside of Belfast. I was called a Fenian Bastard/Cunt/Taig etc. FOUR TIMES. In my normal days work. Except it wasn't normal. Forgive my anger, but FUCK YOU to everyone that was wearing a Rangers top, FUCK YOU to everyone that thinks it is OK to insult someone who is trying to do their job on a very difficult day, anf FUCK YOU to everyone that thinks that the 12th of July is a day when you can feel superior to your Catholic neighbours, simply because of a battle in the Boyne Valley 300 odd years ago.Fucking assholes.

Sorry for the bad language.

Well Con, having had the misfortune to accidently refer to Doire as Londonderry while staying with a friend up there, I can assure you I know about small bloody mindedness from certain people. I never knew "Hun" was meant as an insult to "Prods" until that night!

CJ, I never knew I was a 'Fenian Batard' until a local RUC man told me it at the age of 11. My Da went mental when I told him. I never understood why until much later.
It just goes to show that the small bloody mindedness you refer to pervades our society at all levels. Both Nationalist and Unionist cultures are brought up with stereotypes of the Other Community, from how far apart their eyes are, to what lengths they go to to avoid the use of soap. haha.
I'm glad to say that life in Skin Town returned to normality by the morning of the 13th. Although some customers had to be cautioned on their improper terms of address, before they were served again.
Maybe you could have called it Londain-Doire CJ, probably would have confused the fuck of your average simple minded sectarian fool.
Anyway, I thought I had made my position on the AOH very clear, I'm just not sure about your analysis of them as collectors for the war chest. They had NORAID for that. Who were binned as soon as it became expedient to do so.
I am no fan of the current Republican Movement. But in the tradtion of Tones' United Irishmen, I remain proud to be a Fenian. Just not a Bastard for doing so.