Twice a year, on the anniversary of the Boyne and on King William’s birthday, the Orange party of Dublin whitewashed the king’s equestrian statue in College Green and dressed it in a scarlet cloak and an orange sash. Orange lilies and ribbons hung on the horse, green ribbons and shamrocks were laid under its raised hoof, and passers-by who did not take off their hats were knocked down. The authorities put a stop to the custom in 1822 after years of riots.
Dressing King William’s statue on College Green
1 July · College Green, Dublin
No longer kept
Twice a year, on the anniversaries of the battle of the Boyne, and birthday of King William, the statue was cleaned, white-washed, and decorated with a scarlet cloak, orange sash, and other appurtenances
From Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 2, p. 9. Read the original
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