William of Orange
Carrickfergus, County Antrim
Born in Holland, William was invited by powerful opponents of James II to support them in deposing the Cathodic monarch and to become the new King of England. William accepted their offer, and he also visited Ireland to mount a military campaign against the supporters of James.
His landing at Carrickfergus in 1690 and his subsequent victories still fire the imagination of many Ulster Protestants. In much of Northern Ireland, images of William appear in everyday settings, and the controversial Orange Walks that take place in the summer commemorate William's campaign in Ireland.