Dan Winter’s Cottage

When I mentioned to our guide that my dad always wore orange on St. Patrick's Day because he was an Orangeman, Frank lit up. Being an Orangeman is a bigger deal than I thought. It began as a secret group of Protestant men who were sworn to uphold the idea of Protestant ascendancy in Ireland. They are known for their marches on July 12, their support of Britain and the king, and their support of the community. In September 21, 1795, the Battle of the Diamond, which was a conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants, the Orange Order was formed to help with the Protestant fight. The first gathering place was in County Armagh, in Dan Winter's house. Dan Winter's home is very close to the Church at Kilmore where my father's family had lived, and it is likely that Thomas Kinney and his sons, including William, were members of the Orange Order and actually had been in that building.

Dan Winter's Lodge is now a small museum, and Frank had never been inside it. Dan Winter's relative still owns the museum, and he happened to be just walking by when we arrived. Frank was thrilled, and after I put all of the pieces together, so was I! It was a small home with a bedroom, kitchen, pub, and small store. The Battle of the Diamond took place behind the lodge, and after that, the Orange Order was begun.

Within two months after the Battle of the Diamond, nearly 7000 Catholics were run out of County Armagh. When we came to Ireland looking for my roots, we were somewhat following the oral family history about the Aunties - the sisters of Bartley Hoyt Kinney Sr. - who went to Ireland in 1905 (or 06 or 10, depending upon to whom you talk) and found the family, who was still holding a grudge against Thomas because he fled to the US in about 1815. We have two pictures of them, but we had been led to believe the pictures were of the Kinney property. But we went to the Dan Winter Cottage, and what do you think, after comparing the two pictures?

We believe that the two pictures are one and the same. For 60 years, I had no idea why my dad said he was an Orangeman, except that he was a Protestant. I have asked one cousin if his dad ever said anything, and they had not heard of it. Then I asked all of the surviving cousins my age, and glory be - one not only knew about it but he wears the Orange every St. Patrick's Day. Dad never explained it like Uncle Ed did to David, but he told us enough to keep me curious. I plan to continue the research, but after what I learned, I can believe that Thomas Kinney walked in Dan Winter's Lodge, whether it was after the Battle of the Diamond, the first meeting of the Orange Order, or some other time.