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”.
“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.”
“Moss side” is probably Scots, with “moss” meaning “marsh” or “(peat) bog” (DSL) and this mural is appropriately on Ballybog Road (in Dunmurry), “bog(ach)” in Irish meaning “soft (ground)..
In the mural, “QFB” is Queensway Flute Band – they used to have a mural in Seymour Hill – and “LOL 136” is a lodge in the Derriaghy District (Fb). It’s not clear if there is a specific referent for the dolmen in the centre.
This is the scene at the junction of Pollock Drive and Mourne Road in Mourneview, Lurgan. The images, in order, show the top level of boards (including some on the sides of the building) and then the four along the bottom.
Top: (on side) Inniskilling Dragoon Guards | South Belfast UDA, B battalion, 1 company | Ancre Somme Association | 9th battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers | Craigavon Protestant Boys flute band (Fb) | Carson signing the Covenant in 1912 | (on side, above Mourneview Youth) Upper Bann Fusiliers flute band (Fb) | Upper Bann Fusiliers
Bottom: No Home Rule including the unfurling of “The Largest Union Jack In The Empire” | The Covenant | The Relief Of Ulster including the Ulster Volunteers and the Larne gun-running | The Great War including the VC won by William MacFadzean – “To them, bravery was without limit; to us, memory is without end”.
“Sir Edward Carson (later Lord Duncairn) signing the Ulster Covenant in the Belfast City Hall, September 28, 1912. Left to right, 1st row: Mr. R.J. McMordie, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lord Charles Beresford, Marquess of Londonderry, Sir Edward Carson, Captain James Craig (later Lord Craigavon), Mr. J.H. Campbell, K.C. (later Lord Glenavy), and Dr. W. Gibson. 2nd row: present Lord Londonderry, and Col. R.H. Wallace, C.B., D.L. Behind the latter, Ronald McNeill, M.P. (later Lord Cushendun).”
“NVF” in the left-hand insignia stands for “Newtownards Volunteer Flute [Band]” (Fb). On the right is the insignia of another flute band, the North Down Defenders (Fb).
Outside the Bowtown Youth Club in Abbot Gardens, Newtownards
The main panel reads: “Liscolman Protestant Boys remember 1914-1918. 36th (Ulster) Division. Robert Quigg, VC. Sons of Ulster, Somme 1916. When you go home, tell them of us and say,/for their tomorrow, we gave our today.”
On the left: 1914-1918. Private Charles Allen, Rifleman Robert Moore, Rifleman William Moore, Lieuftenant Thomas Patrick Craig, Private Archibald Nicholl, Sergeant Samuel James Holmes, Rifleman James Laverty. Without limit.”
On the right: “Heart and hame” and what is perhaps a mill chimney.
Toberdoney Road, Liscolman. With red-white-and-blue kerb-stones in Carnbore Road, and coping- and kerb-stones in Toberdoney Road.
There are four loyalist paintings on the street surface in Portavogie, beginning with the crest of the Red Hand Defenders flute band (Fb) “Formed in 1979” and the Portavogie Young Volunteers.
“Shankill Star [flute band Fb] in memory of Brian Robinson”. A brand new piece (unveiled March 2, 2013) to Brian Robinson and/sponsored by the Shankill Star Flute Band, in Disraeli Street – where Robinson grew up – replete with images from the first World War such as soldiers (both British and German), trenches and poppies. Robinson was killed on 2 Sept., 1989 by an army undercover unit moments after he had shot and killed a Catholic named Patrick McKenna (WP). This is the second mural on the street to Robinson – see M08248. The piece is not paint, but printed boards, and the image has been generated by computer.
