Lissarley Flute Band

Lissarley Flute Band – Annual Band Parade 2007

On Friday May 18th, we held our third annual band parade at our Orange Hall to continue our 60th anniversary celebrations. Even though it was a little cold, the rain cleared away just before we got underway and allowed an enjoyable night for bands and spectators alike. Our parade started as usual at the hall and proceeded toward Glenbrook. Due to the unavailability of the usual field, we kept our agricultural feel alive by marching around Hall’s slatted unit as our turning point instead! Thanks to a neighbouring household for allowing this and cleaning up before hand.

As with past years, we were joined on the night by bands from counties Armagh, Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan with pipe, accordion and flute, both melody and “blood & thunder”, all being represented. We had an excellent turnout of bands even with several previous attendees unable to be with us on the night.

During and after the parade, tea and sandwiches were served by the ladies as our in-house chef kept the burgers going outside – thank you all for your time and effort.

We in Lissarley have made many cross-border links with NI bands in recent years. These bands make quite an effort to support us when they can but, unfortunately, due to other parades on the same night, this meant that some of them were late arrivals. We understand the problems that this caused on the night and apologise to those who were annoyed about the hold-up. We appreciated your patience and hope for your continued support. We will have to make changes to try and solve these issues for subsequent parades but, due to venue and date restrictions, this will require lots of head-scratching between now and then!

Thank you to all that attended and we wish you all a successful marching season ahead.

 Bands in attendance:-

Accordion: Rosslea, Drum, Cappa, Mullaghboy, Doohat and Carnagh.

Pipe: Knox and Clontibret.

Flute: Druminan, Magheraveely, Newtownbutler, Aghadrumsee,

Allistragh, Kilcluney Volunteers, Drumhillery,

Cormeen, Ballyrea and Lissarley.

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 A Review of 2005

This year was a very good year for Lissarley Flute Band with the introduction of new uniforms,some new tunes and improved foot work (in case nobody noticed!!). We attended a record number of parades – 19 in total – with these taking place in 6 different counties, both north and south of the border – Monaghan, Cavan, Fermanagh, Armagh, Donegal & Londonderry.

Our year began in May with our own parade to dedicate our smart new uniforms. About 15 bands attended on the night and the dry weather, which we were very lucky to get, attracted a large crowd. The night was a sure success and the hope is that this year’s parade can be as good, if not better. The month of June was kicked of by our usual trip over to Billyhill, which saw the dedication of their new uniform at their annual picnic. Then 2005 became the second year in which we travelled to Markethill, Co. Armagh for the Kilcluney Volunteers Flute Band annual parade. This parade is one of the largest ones held by one particular band with this year seeing in excess of ninety bands. Our hard work definitely paid off and was very evident as we played full volume up the main street with the massive crowds cheering us on. June also saw us marching in Dartrey and Druminan.

From the beginning of June saw us parading at least once a week, with some weeks seeing us participating in two or more parades in a week. Our hard work all winter continued to be developed each time we went out on parade. Everywhere we went we continued the whole summer to receive very good comments in regard to how well the band was looking and sounding. Rossnowlagh was our first big parade – this day proved to be very enjoyable indeed with the pleasant weather and seaside setting always proving to be a popular crowd puller. The Twelfth of July, held in Ballinamallard, saw one of the warmest days ever seen on this day in several years and this heat – though far from unwanted definitely tested each and every one of us in our new black jackets buttoned to the neck!

This year was our first time parading in Londonderry – on Wednesday 27^th July we travelled up to take part in East Bank Protestant Boys’ parade. EBPB were the band of whom we bought our uniforms. As well as these three parades we also attended parades for the following bands – Feaugh, Drum, Doohat, Clogh and Knox.

The Twelfth of August saw us parading in Brookeborough. For the Last Saturday we headed up to the first Last Saturday to be held in the Republic of Ireland in Raphoe, Co. Donegal. The day proved a success.

The beginning of September saw the band attending for the first time a parade in Caledon, Co. Armagh hosted by Clontibret Pipe Band were we received a very warm welcome. Our last parade was in Enniskillen for South Fermanagh Loyalist Flute Band with the night going down a treat. Another new thing that Lissarley Flute Band took part in this year was a concert for the Border Minority group in the Garage Theatre, Monaghan in September. The band preformed a total of eight tunes in front of the welcoming audience. I can’t mention concerts without mentioning our own of course which was held in the Union Hall, Newbliss on the 25^th November, which also had the band appear for the first time by popular demand. Both these concerts were a new experience for us and we look forward to perhaps doing more in this year.

To finish all the members of Lissarley Flute Band would like to thank everyone who has turned out to support us at any of the parades and indeed our concert. Your support is very much appreciated and we look forward to seeing all of you again in this New Year when hopefully the band will continue its improvements.