ULSTER’S bands are a deeply integrated part of modern Northern Ireland life, with a great example illustrating this taking place last Friday and Saturday.
The festive period is well underway, and across the province bands are no different from many other community groups and organisations, arranging Christmas parties for members and their families.
The Steeple Defenders Flute Antrim took it a step further, however, organising a two-day Santa’s Grotto open to the public. The event was hosted in the Parkhall Shopping Centre within the offices of the Inter Estate Partnership and an amazing total of 500 people crossed the door during the two days!
Over 300 children had their photo taken with Santa Claus, all receiving a present, while parents were treated to a glass of mulled wine and piece of shortbread. The event was appreciated by all those who availed of its services, all the more so given it was totally free — in these difficult economic times a much welcome help to parents as Christmas approaches. A final further highlight to the excellent work of the Steeple Defenders was a donation made to the charity Tiny Life from a bucket left at the Grotto.
Elsewhere over last weekend some short parades took place across Ulster, the occasion being the commemoration of the Closing of the Gates of Derry by the 13 Apprentice Boys. The main and largest day of celebration now takes place in Londonderry in the first week of December, however many Apprentice Boys Clubs and bands still honour it with smaller events nearer the original date, December 18.
Parades took place last Saturday in Newtownards, Portadown, Coleraine, the Shankill Road and Limavady. In Limavady three local bands were out to mark the occasion, the bands of Ballyquin Loyal Sons of Ulster Flute, Edenmore Flute and Ballynarrig Pride of Orange Flute all enjoying the procession and playing well despite the cold weather.
On Boxing night the Young Conway Volunteers Flute West Belfast, are hosting a disco in the Ulster Rangers Club on the Shankill Road. Organised as an ‘Old-School’ night, the evening will be a big attraction to those into their dance music. In Kelly’s Bar in Ballymoney, the Ballymoney Mitchelbourne Apprentice Boys of Derry also host a fundraising disco on Boxing night.
The traditional Drum Beat review of the year will be appearing next week. If you have ideas for inclusion, or if you have photographs which you feel captured the band scene in a true light, please get in touch with Drumbeat. You can email photos or ideas to Quincey@ulsterbandsforum.net. Drumbeat is also currently starting to put together its annual Band Season Calendar, with plans to launch it much earlier in 2012 to make sure more band parades are covered. If you would like your band procession included, contact Drum Beat as soon as possible with full details. Drum Beat will be continuing throughout the winter however the focus will change to the ever growing schedule of indoor band events, the formation of new bands and the ongoing work and practice of our existing bands.
n If you would like to publicise fundraising, competition, cultural or indeed any events related to the large Ulster Marching Band community, you can contact Drum Beat by ringing or texting Quincey on 07835624221 or emailing quincey@ulsterbandsforum.net, with all contributions, opinions and news from the country’s thriving band movement very welcome.