Painted UVF and YCV flags, together with the Ulster Banner and Union Flag, make up this Bangor Protestant Boys flute band (Fb) mural.
Owenroe Drive, Bangor
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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The Tullycarnet Flute Band mural on the electrical sub-station in Lochinver Drive, Tullycarnet, as been repainted/touched up (compare to 2013).
The plaques read: “In memory of Steven Dawson (Big Penny). Gone but not forgotten. A light shone in the night”, and “In memory of Joseph Baxter Corry (Joe). Gone but not forgotten. You’ll always be in our hearts. Farewell our absent friend.”
Lochinver Drive, Tullycarnet, Dundonald
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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The [Sergeant] Lindsay Mooney Memorial Flute Band was formed in 1973 after the St. Patrick’s day death of Lindsay Mooney, a UDA member killed by the premature explosion of a bomb near Lifford, County Donegal (Sutton).
The band dissolved in 1993 but commemorative nights are still held. The board above is in the Lincoln Court area of Londonderry, from where Mooney and the band both hailed. “To those of us who criticise, to those who cannot see, just remember in a foreign land feel a better man than me.”
Lincoln Court, Londonderry
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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The Pride Of Ballybeen is a flute band formed in 2014. Their band mural features the Union Flag and Ulster Banner flanking the red hand of Ulster on a six-pointed star against an orange field, surrounded by a crown and a garland pinned by a rose; the titular banner, below, is supported by shamrock and thistle.
Video of the band in action on youtube.
Craigleith Drive, Ballybeen, Dundonald
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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The main part of this installation is a large painted carving of lions rampant on either side of the emblem of the Shankill Protestant Boys flute band (Fb), named for the Shankill Boys of the original Ulster Volunteers and the Ulster Special Service Force unit within it which was designed to be a unit of “first responders”, ready to react at short notice to action by republicans or British forces anywhere in northern Ireland (historyireland).
With the outbreak of World War I, the Ulster Volunteers joined the RIR and the 36th (Ulster) Division and fought at the Battle Of The Somme in 1916: “’The Ulster Division has lost more than half the men who attacked and in doing so has sacrificed it for the Empire which has treated them none too well. The much derided Ulster Volunteer Force has won a name which equals any in history. Their devotion, which no doubt has helped the advance elsewhere, deserved the gratitude of the British Empire. It is due to the memory of these brave fellows that their beloved Province shall be fairly treated.’ Captain Wilfred [sic] Spender HQ staff 2nd July 1916″
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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This is the post-launch version of the Whiterock flute band’s history wall (as compared to the partially completed wall from last year, before the launch). At the top, we now have a gold disc and orange lily, and, around the doorway on the far right, a list of members, photographs from years gone by, and an account of the launch, which took place on June 14th, 2014.
The final image is from July, by which time “Whiterock F.B.” in bold, white, lettering along the top right had been added.
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Copyright © 2015 Peter Moloney
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There is a new ‘Young Conquerors flute band’ mural in Pine Street, south Belfast, connecting the band to local soldiers who died in WWI. (Previous mural.)
The photograph on the left of the main panel is of the original Donegall Pass Defenders flute band, which lasted a short time in the 1970s before the formation of the Conquerors in 1977 (Fb). On the right is the patch of the band.
The small board reads “DPYM” – perhaps “Donegall Pass Young Militia”
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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This large electrical sub-station, painted on all four sides, is in Ballyduff, Newtownabbey.
First: David Lee was a founder, in 1985, of Pride Of The Hill Flute Band in Carnmoney/Ballyduff. Kris Muckle – now deceased – was a long-time member. (Fb)
Second: Translations of Psalm 60.4 vary, but it is something like “You (the Lord) have given those who fear you a banner so that they will not flee before your arrows”, which might work quite well alongside a Union jack. But in fact, the lines on the side of the sub-station come do not come from Psalm 60.4; they are rather the first stanza of a 1902 poem (earliest found mention), The Union Jack, by Edward Shirley, in Little Poems For Little People:
‘Tis thy flag and my flag, the best of flags on earth;
Oh, cherish it my children, for ’tis yours by right of birth.
Your fathers fought, your fathers died, to rear it to the skies;
And we like them will never yield, but keep it flying high.
Third and fourth: “They paid the ultimate sacrifice”. WWI soldiers from the 36th (Ulster) Division in relief against an orange sky (perhaps “at the going down of the sun”), picking their way across the battlefields of Flanders. The Ulster Memorial at Thiepval, which commemorates the 5,000 lost lives and more specifically the role of Orange Order members, is shown in the top left corner of the smaller wall. The plaque commemorates members of the modern UVF “1st East Antrim Battalion, Ballyduff & Glengormley”.
Fairview Road, Newtownabbey
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Boards of the Rising Sons Of The Valley (Fb), Mourne Young Defenders (Fb), and Pride Of Ballinran (Fb) flute bands in Kilkeel, County Down.
The left part of the RSV board shows the numeral “II” on a “1912” Ulster Volunteers flag. The 2nd County Down battalion of the 1912 Ulster Volunteers became (in 1914) the 16th RIR, the pioneer (engineering) battalion for the 36th Division (Long Long Trail).
The motto on the Ballinran board is “Secundus ad nullam”, which is a word-for-word mis-translation of “second to none”; properly it would simply be “nulli secundus”.
Harbour Road, Kilkeel
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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“On behalf of the officers and members of the Whiterock flute band we would like to thank all our past members, families, loyal orders and community for your support.”
“A brief history: On the 21st February 1962 there was a new flute band established. This band was to be named the Whiterock flute band. It all began during the monthly meeting of Whiterock Temperance LOL 974 when Brother Andrew Johnston (Snr) backed by Bro. Jack King proposed that a junior band be formed. Little did they know that the band would be celebrating 50 glorious years in 2012.
The band’s first chairperson was Andrew Johnston (Snr), the role which has been filled by many after him. The original committee members were Billy Simpson and Joe Proctor. The initial band membership came mainly from the mixed area of the Upper Springfield Road namely New Barnsley, Moyard and the adjoining Highfield area. However over the years the ranks of the Whiterock have been filled with folk from all over Belfast. With a new band comes the need for instruments, the ‘John Brown’ flutes were purchased for a small fee of thirty bob (£1.50) whilst the side drums were kindly donated by the Springfield Methodist church and accompanying bands associated with the church obtained through Jimmy McClean.
With practices taking place in Whiterock Orange Hall and the band building a repertoire of music containing Blackboard of my Heart, Abide with Me and the national anthem all they needed now was a parade to get the show on the road. The first parade for the band was on the 29th June 1962 accompanying the Whiterock Temperance LOL 974 on their annual Whiterock parade, a parade which today still plays a large part in the band’s activities.
Two years later in 1964, the band was well establish and looked towards a uniform re-design; they opted for bright orange sashes, white shirts and the Balmoral Hat with the distinctive orange plume. The hat is still part of the Whiterock uniform today and in fact has become somewhat a trade mark of the band.
As well as the uniform, the band instruments also changed slightly in that they obtained ‘Big Bertha’ which is a half Lambeg rope drum and is still beaten by the band today, alongside this they began purchasing the Hawkes and Sons Crown AZ Bb flute which is also still played by the band. The Crown AZ flutes are a highly sought after instrument and are a lot more expensive than the John Browns purchased for £1.50.
The band had engaged with many organisations throughout their history, some of which have maintained long term relationships. On the band’s 50th anniversary 2012, we enjoyed the company of Ulster Convention LOL 242 for (37 years), alongside Britannia Junior LOL 32 (36 years). Other notable relationships are Beaconsfield RBP 224 (34 years) and ABOD Campsie Club (12 years) all presently engaged to date 2014.
Membership of the band remains consistent with many members having an impressive number of years service under their belt, in particular Alex Thompson (AT), who has a staggering 50 years marked in 2013. Looking towards the future, the band will stay committed to providing opportunities for our younger generations, to participate in the art of flute and drum, therefore keeping our glorious tradition alive.”
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Copyright © 2014 Peter Moloney
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Peter Moloney Collection 