As we don’t walk with the RBP anymore it’s nearly a fixed date for us…the night before!

The host band themselves are a well travelled band and its good to support a band that lives in hostile territory. As per usual the shiners were making waves towards the parade…same old same old with them lot.

On a good night weather wise we headed to the parade which was well under way as wee arrived, I’m sure you are all sick of reading that statement by now!

I managed to see the Pride of the Hill Rathisland forming up and playing very well leaving the starting point, I also seen the Lower Woodstock with 3 side drummers and 6 flute corps as per usual from them. The band on route passed the mighty Mourne Young Defenders looking and playing very well indeed, but sure that’s the norm with the MYD.

The route on this parade is short and passes by the Brass Monkey bar; I can report no trouble as we paraded around the route, great sound in Newry as there are tall buildings which echo the noise around the surrounding area. There where good crowds watching the parade from around the Orange Hall and Cricket club.

Tonight our own band paraded with 11 side drummers, 28 flute corps, colour party of 5 and 2 bass drummers. A good turnout tonight but I was more happy with our flute section, they done everything asked of them tonight and our marching was spot on and volume was first class.

Drummers tonight where going well, smaller drum section than normal but once again put on a good display.

Bass drummers tonight where outstanding I can’t praise the guys enough and it’s a great pleasure to walk behind these guys and they certainly do make the band tick into gear.

The most praise tonight goes to our colour party, they get a lot of stick in our own circle but over the past month have proved our critics wrong.

Blowing my own trumpet on this report but I am very pleased with the band tonight, the band was up for it tonight and I can report a huge trophy haul was awarded to us tonight but our display was well worth it.

Well done South Down Defenders for a good parade in Loyalist Newry.

John Keenan
East Belfast Protestant Boys Flute Band Chairman

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