The United Irishmen launched a rebellion in 1798 . In Ulster , most of the United Irish commanders and many of the rebels were Protestant . Orangemen were recruited into the yeomanry to help fight the rebellion and " proved an invaluable addition to government forces " . No attempt was made to disarm Orangemen outside the yeomanry , because they were seen as by far the lesser threat . It was also claimed that if an attempt had been made then " the whole of Ulster would be as bad as Antrim and Down " , where the United Irishmen rebellion was at its strongest . However , sectarian massacres by the Defenders in County Wexford " did much to dampen " the rebellion in Ulster . The Scullabogue Barn massacre saw over 100 non-combatant ( mostly Protestant ) men , women , and children imprisoned in a barn which was then set alight , with the Catholic rebels ensuring none escaped , not even a child who it is claimed managed to break out only for a rebel to kill with his pike . In the trials that followed the massacres , evidence was recorded of anti-Orange sentiments being expressed by the rebels at Scullabogue . Partly as a result of this atrocity , the Orange Order quickly grew and large numbers of gentry with experience gained in the yeomanry came into the movement
Scullabogue Barn massacre
Scullabogue Barn massacre
Orange Order