Hard to believe it’s a year since the last time we travelled to Banbridge, always a great night with both sides of the streets packed solid with spectators young and old.

The noise was deafening, my personal view is that this tops even the big parade in Markethill. Banbridge has big wide streets and plenty of room combined with the tunnel and its very hard to beat, the only thing I didn’t like was the new start and stop points definitely to short in my own personal opinion.

Some great bands on show tonight, the Shankill Protestant Boys, Drumderg Loyalists, Kilcluney Volunteers, South Belfast Young Conquers to name a few; also the smaller bands like Lambeg, Pride of the Shore, Shankill Star, Gortagilly, Finaghy True Blues, Bessbrook and it was great to see the mighty Portavogie out tonight with the old boys on parade.

Great to see some old faces out tonight, the likes of Clogher Protestant Boys, Pride of the Maine and the mighty Pride of the Hill from Rathisland; all bands going very well tonight and all in great form. The judging tonight must have been hard to call with this fantastic quality on show.

The blow out section was in my view the entire route no let up at all the Blood & Thunder tonight was first class every band tonight deserves a big pat on the back.

At the tunnel the hairs on the back of my neck stood up with the noise generated, it’s a great spot for the bands to bash the hell out of their drums and the bass drummers love it! It’s totally nuts and the spectators love it! My god I wish we could build one in East Belfast for our parade!

My own band tonight walked with a full drum section of 20 side drummers, slightly down in numbers with a flute corps of 26, with holidays and work ruling a few members out as I wanted a full flute section but the ones that did parade played tonight as well if not better than at any parade this year.

Tonight we were rocking and with no let up in passing we played to a very high standard yes I can blow my trumpet but tonight I was very proud of my own band on what was for us a great parade.

Great bands and great crowds watching and oh and by the way well done Downshire for a great night out.

John Keenan
East Belfast Protestant Boys Flute Band Chairman

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