Williamite war route goes on map

The map traces William and his army's route through Ireland

A map tracing the route of William of Orange and his army in Ireland before and after the Battle of the Boyne, has been launched by the Orange Order.

The order hopes the Williamite Trail map will be a hit with tourists as well as local people.

The map was designed after consultations with historians on both sides of the Irish border.

It begins in Londonderry, site of the 1688-89 siege, and ends in Kinsale, County Cork.

The trail takes in Carrickfergus, where William and his troops first landed, Belfast, Hillsborough, Loughbrickland and Scarva, before moving towards the Battle of the Boyne, near Drogheda.

It was here that King William and his army of 36,000 met his father-in-law James II and his 25,000 troops in the last known battle where two kings were involved in the fighting.

The battle was the decisive encounter in a war that was primarily about the attempt by James II to regain the throne of England and Scotland.

In the Republic of Ireland, the trail takes in the Battle of Aughrim and Limerick, where the treaty was signed that ended the Williamite Wars.

We all share the same history and hopefully the Williamite Trail will help people get a better understanding of that history David Scott, Orange Order

It ends in Kinsale where King William's army, led by the Duke of Marlborough, advanced on Charles Fort and took control following a 13-day siege.

The origins of the Orange Order date from the struggle for the British throne between the Protestant William and the Catholic James.

Orange marches take place on 12 July to commemorate William's victory over James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Next week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and NI First Minister Ian Paisley will officially open the Boyne battle site near Drogheda to the public.

King William's victory is celebrated by the Orange Order

The order hopes its map will tap into the growing interest in this era of Irish history.

"We believe that the Williamite Trail will be an important addition to the tourist literature that is available," the Orange Order's David Scott said.

"Local people, or visitors, will find a wealth of information and hopefully it will encourage them to go to some of the locations.

"The map covers much of the island and we believe that it will be a major boost to the tourist industry.

"We all share the same history and hopefully the Williamite Trail will help people get a better understanding of that history."

The map, priced £1.50, will initially be available from the Orange Order, and then from public outlets.