# Trying to identify what may be a religious order **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337 "2017-01-16T20:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/1 "2017-01-16T20:36:53Z")
I’ve noticed a few people around the city centre of late, dressed in similar suits and overcoats and sporting wide brimmed hats with pink bands around them. Given how they seem to be doing long walks of the area and go a little out of their way to stop and talk to people, I assumed they were religious folk of some sort, but I’m not sure of what denomination. Anyone have an idea from the vague description above? Whatever I’m throwing at Google doesn’t seem to be providing any answers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/2 "2017-01-16T20:58:14Z")
What city? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/3 "2017-01-16T21:18:37Z")
Are the hats identical? If not, are they all the same color? The same style? ETA: What color and style are they? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/4 "2017-01-16T21:18:42Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What city? Belfast. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/5 "2017-01-16T22:13:05Z")
An organized breast cancer awareness group, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/6 "2017-01-16T22:15:01Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > An organized breast cancer awareness group, perhaps? No idea, a load of Mormons have been doing the rounds of the city of late and being quite pushy so I was in no mood to stop and chat. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/7 "2017-01-16T22:25:01Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > No idea, a load of Mormons have been doing the rounds of the city of late and being quite pushy so I was in no mood to stop and chat. I live in Utah and I do not blame you one iota. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/8 "2017-01-16T22:26:26Z")
Sneak a picture? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/9 "2017-01-17T00:15:10Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Sneak a picture? Yeah, thought I might try that, maybe when I’m doing a message for work or have the bike out. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/10 "2017-02-27T20:13:52Z")
[Welcome to Belfast, we’re not weird or intimidating looking.](http://belfastone.co.uk/news-item/introducing-belfast-one-ambassadors/) They seem to have disappeared from the streets just as advertising explaining what they’re actually there for goes up. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/11 "2017-02-27T20:26:42Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > [Welcome to Belfast, we’re not weird or intimidating looking.](http://belfastone.co.uk/news-item/introducing-belfast-one-ambassadors/) > > They seem to have disappeared from the streets just as advertising explaining what they’re actually there for goes up. What, they know where I can pick up girls or which pubs have the lowest prices? ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/12 "2017-02-27T21:18:54Z")
Unsure if black hats that look not unlike bowlers and commemoration parade type overcoats are the best fit for Belfast. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/13 "2017-02-27T21:57:36Z")
Is it common in Ireland, to not remove the labels from the sleeves of coats that you purchase? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/14 "2017-02-27T22:21:30Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > [Welcome to Belfast, we’re not weird or intimidating looking.](http://belfastone.co.uk/news-item/introducing-belfast-one-ambassadors/) Well, their website is weird or intimidating-looking, at least to my work-computer firewall that’s blocking it as a “parked site.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-what-may-be-a-religious-order/777337/15 "2017-03-06T19:29:49Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What, they know where I can pick up girls or which pubs have the lowest prices? Not sure about low prices but when the working people have gone home, the area around the city centre is spilling over with such ladies. They could as well advise you that they’re clocking off for the evening, so wait 5 minutes for the city to spew forth some wonder. > [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Unsure if black hats that look not unlike bowlers and commemoration parade type overcoats are the best fit for Belfast. I’m hoping people think it’s fans of Dark City. > [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Is it common in Ireland, to not remove the labels from the sleeves of coats that you purchase? Used to be shops would let you return an item in good condition for a full refund. People would buy clothing fit for attendance at a funeral and then return it. In Ireland this meant buying “new” clothes and finding rosary beads in the pockets.