We travelled for the first time to Blair Memorials annual band parade and competition, this is has been a party of our policy of trying to do as many different parades as we possible can.
After a good bus trip down to the host bands town of Omagh we arrived at the starting point and it also proved to be the finishing point at the local bus station depot.
The first band that we got a chance to see where the local Omagh Protestant Boys who where closely followed by the Omagh True Blues coming through the town centre.
It was good to see bands like Kilcluney Volunteers & Drumderg Loyalists in attendance and as per usual both playing to a very high standard indeed.
One band that I did see playing for a short while where the Pride of the Frontier also from the border area of Keady in South Armagh, in my opinion they are a vastly improved band with a first class bass drummer, and to be honest it was a good night to see many bands that’s we normally won’t see around the Belfast and County Down areas.
The parade made its way over the bridge and then headed for the outer route and back in the centre of the town on a really hot and sticky night, and it was great to see a light shower of rain which cooled us down and was really needed!
We received a great welcome from the Omagh people and I would tell by comments that we again made a few more friends by simply going to this parade.
Due to holidays and other commitments we walked with a slightly smaller band than usual; 12 side drummers, 24 fluters, colour party of 6, 2 cymbal boys and 2 bass drummers, our stand in bass drummer done really well and deservers a mention as does everyone else in the band for turning out tonight.
We played quite well and again it was another chance for our band captain to play our new tunes in a relaxed environment.
Our flag party done great and with a few new members in the ranks proving their ability to fit in well with the rest of the lads in the band it certainly is heart warming to know that everyone is giving a 100% effort.
Below are a selection of photographs of the band in action.
