I don’t think it is as simple as that.
Many of the “Orangemen” no longer feel British. It’s like the Anglo-Norman (the many, many Irish Protestants like the first President of Ireland) who started off as non-Irish but ended up as more Irish than the Irish themselves.
British culture is failing and Westminster is leaving Northern Ireland, so more Northern Irish ‘unionist’ families feel more in tune with their Irish brothers in the republic.
Very true..Most Unionists are of Scottish descent anyway,so their culture is more Celt than Anglo
I guarantee you that Orangemen definately feel British and unionist. These are the ones who are quite fanatical about their British identity. You won’t find a single member of the Orange order that is, or ever will be, in favour of joining the Republic.