Ballysillan Memorial Parade - 23/05/09

BallysillanBallysillanThe band headed across the city to attend the Ballysillan Memorial parade on a damp but warm day.

Back to the original route this year starting of at the Mural facing the Belfast Boys' Model School. The route itself is mostly on the long Ballysillan road before twisting the bands around the estate to finish at the Orange Hall.

Personally i thought crowds were down in numbers this year but by no fault of anyone, just the bad weather. The bands in attendance put on a great show for the people who did come to watch.

Shankill Protestant Boys once again massive in numbers and looking well in the new Uniform. South Belfast Young Conquerors down in numbers today but still gave a good account of themselves. Good to see the Gertrude Star out today whom i dont think has done this parade before. Shankill Star and the West Belfast Volunteers both going well as were the likes of the Monkstown YCV and SOU Shankill. I also caught the Crawford Memorial band aswell.

Below are a selection of photographs of the band in action.

Colour Party Colour Party Drum Corps
Drum Corps Flute Corps Flute Corps


Here is a clip of the band in action:
CLIP 1

I personally like attending this parade for a number of reasons. One being a good length of a route for blowing away the cobwebs but of course the main reasons, to maintain the memory of the Volunteers whom lost their lives.

Our own band paraded with 6 of a colour party, 12 drummers, 2 bass drummers and 32 flautists. The band very much enjoyed the parade and it is such a pity that it was the end of an era for the Ballysillan Volunteers flute band who walked for the very last time today.

John Keenan
East Belfast Protestant Boys Flute Band Chairman

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