12th Day and 12th Night

Saturday 12th July 2008 saw the band take part in the biggest day of the year for marching bands.

The 12th July is the day the Orange Order celebrates King William’s victory over King James and therefore holds precessions throughout the country. The band takes part in one of the largest parades during the day which is in Belfast City.

The bands day starts at around 6am. This year the weather was forecasted to be dry and sunny and we weren’t to be disappointed. A dry, calm and sunny morning welcomed us as we paraded through Kilkeel to the Church. Each year we lay a wreath on the grave of Alan Johnston who was murdered 20 years ago in 1988 to show that he is gone but not forgotten.

A good crowd of spectators were on the streets of Kilkeel to see the band head off to Belfast, the band started off in Kilkeel with 35 flutes, 8 drummers, 8 flag girls, 2 bass drummers, WJ on the mace 2 cymbal players and Greasy and Alan on the blackthorns. But more were to join up when we reached the masters house in Ballybeen.

A short break at the masters house and we were off to the main parade for the day. This year we joined in the Belfast Telegraph instead of the usual place up near the Mater Hospital. From this point we were able to see some of the bands that were on parade for a change. Number 6 which is from East Belfast were joining in just as we arrived to form up, some of the bands that were on show included, East Belfast Protestant Boys, East Belfast UVF, Pride of the Raven, Pride of the Hill Carnmoney, The Pink ladies and Pride of the Govan. All of them were playing well, especially East Belfast Protestant Boys who had quite a large band out. Pride of the Govan were a band I had never saw parade before, a flute band from Scotland wearing kilts instead of trousers, looked very impressive, be great for a breeze on a warm day.

After number 6 had left, some of the other bands that I got to see included, Govan Protestant Boys, Netherton Road, Whiterock, Shankill Protestant Boys and Shankill Road Defenders who were all playing and looking well.

Onto our own band and after a start stop morning we finally got on the road. Got the chance, once or twice before the City Hall to play the two drum salutes, which went down very well with the crowds around us, with a rapturous applause following as the band finished up and proceeded to the main demonstration field. Big crowds had come out to line the streets; maybe helped by the fantastic weather we were having this year compared to the past 2 previous years were rain fell during the morning part of the parade.

The band was playing well down through the Dublin Road and on to the Lisburn Road via Shaftesbury Square where I would say the biggest of the crowds gathered. The band played its full repertoire of tunes throughout the day, with the latest one ‘Good Companion’ coming along nicely, but the tune of the day would have to have been the ‘Longest Day’ great arrangement in my eyes closely followed by Yee Ha and the Adjutant.

During the half time interval at the field the band was awarded two prizes for the day, with Craig McAlister winning Best Drum Major (after a long and hard week for him, it was fitting for him to lift the prize) and also Best Band in Number 1 District.

After the County had finished with the speeches and announcements the band then went on stage to perform for the crowd. Yee Haa and the Longest Day followed by scotch quarter and the new drum salute went down a treat with the watching bandsmen and spectators.

A long walk was then to follow with the band leaving the field at about 5pm and not finishing up in East Belfast till near 9pm, but it was a great day, great weather and the crowds that lined the streets especially in East Belfast as well as Shaftesbury Square made it the best 12th day so far.

After a short break in the Masonic Hall on the Newtownards Road, in which a few of the members made themselves look like pigs, namely Doaky it was on to Kilkeel for the 12th Night.

The band arrived back in Kilkeel at around 10:30pm and was quickly on the road as we wanted to be finished before 12 midnight to avoid running into Sunday morning.

A big crowd was awaiting us as we arrived at Graham’s garage, mainly young ones with a few parents joining in at the back of the band. The band walked the 12th Night with 43 fluters, 13 drummers, 8 flags girls, 2 bass drummers, WJ Heaney on the Mace, 3 cymbal players and 3 side walkers, but another 15 or so members were absent due to various circumstances and more to follow next year with the new batch of learners.

As the band turned round Jim Quinn’s the crowd that was awaiting us in the town was quite a sight to see, the police estimate at over 8,000 people, with lines of people filling every street that the band walked up and down. Really is such a buzz for all the members of the band to be a part of this great spectacle.

The crowd followed the band around the town, from one end to the other, and then surrounding the band in the centre as it stopped to play Scotch Quarter, Yee Haa and finishing with the drum salute.

The band finishes up at the Orange Hall at the opposite end of the town to were it starts, and with the band starting at 10:30pm, we were finished up at 11:45pm.

Big well done to al those involved to make the day one of the best yet and especially to wee John Winter who at the age of 13 carried the side drum the whole day without taking a break once, and also to Gareth, Ryan, Alan, David, Kenny and Laura who all took part in their 1st 12th day with the band.