AS the country continues to wrestle over its Brexit divisions, talk about borders has brought the delicate balance of politics in Northern Ireland back into the news.

In the 1980s and 1990s backers for a united Ireland, or supporters for the continued position of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, were much more prominent and vocal in Furness.

There were annual marches through the streets of Barrow by Loyalist members of the Orange Order - with involvement of lodges from all over the country.

Among the marchers in 1994 was David Trimble, then a prominent Ulster Unionist MP.

He is now Baron Trimble, born in October 1944, who shared a Noble Peace Prize with John Hume and was First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002.

As leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 1995 he played a leading part in negotiations for the Good Friday Agreement - which has maintained peace between Republicans and Loyalists in Northern Ireland since 1998.

When the politician was in Barrow in 1994 the mood was more robust and Mr Trimble didn’t have a good word for Conservatives in London who he accused of dithering over Northern Ireland.

The Mail on June 4 in 1991 recorded a march through the townto celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Furness True Blues, a Barrow-based Orange lodge.

A parade was led by the Protestant Reformers Concertina Band from Liverpool from the Union Jack Club, in Lawson Street, to the cenotaph in Barrow Park for the laying of a wreath by Alex Managh, honorary deputy grandmaster of England.

Another March was held on October 5 in 1991 which included a rally at the soccer ground of Barrow Wanderers, in Lesh Lane, which was addressed by secretary of the Ulster Unionist Party Geoffrey Danaldson.

In May 1996 around 120 marchers held a rally at the 99 Club,in Dalkeith Street, which was attended by Lily Hall, the Orange Order’s Grand Mistress of England.