LAMBEG DRUM FOR HEROES ARRIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

A lambeg drum which has been carried by Orangemen from the south coast of England to Scotland, in aid of charity, arrives in Northern Ireland on the afternoon of Thursday, June 9.

The aim of the walk has been to raise funds for the charity HELP FOR HEROES which helps injured service men and women when they return from duty around the world.

The challenge was to follow in the steps of King William III, and carry the lambeg drum from his landing place at Brixham, Devon, all the way to the Boyne Heritage Centre at Drogheda. The first leg of the journey was completed by members of London LOL 1689, taking the drum to Exeter, Portsmouth, The Houses of Parliament, London, Hereford, Manchester and Liverpool, raising funds at various functions and events along the way.

The next leg of the journey began when the drum was handed over to Glasgow LOL 162 at Carlisle. More fund raising took place as the drum made its way around Scotland before crossing the Irish Sea and landing at Larne on Thursday, June 9 on the afternoon ferry from Stranraer.

Members of Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423 will then, along with their Scottish brethren, make their way on foot all the way to the Boyne.

“It has been a major exercise for the Orange Institution throughout the United Kingdom,” said David Watson of Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423.

“There has certainly been a lot of hard work by a lot of people but the effort and planning has been worth it. We have received tremendous support from our Orange brethren, the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. We have taken the lambeg drum to the top of Slieve Donard and Ben Nevis for charity, but this trip is really special. It is certainly a well-travelled drum and it has been attracting fantastic interest as it has been carried, and played, along the very long route,

“It will be wonderful to see the drum come off the boat at Larne. We will be joined by brethren from the rest of the United Kingdom as we parade it through a number of towns and follow the same route as William.

“It really is a record-breaking drum and the excellent charity – Help for Heroes – will benefit considerably as a result. So far we have raised more than £40,000 and we have high hopes that much more will come in during the time the drum is in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”

There will be a parade in Larne on Thursday, June 9 at 7.30pm and it will then be taken to Carrickfergus, the town where William landed in 1690.

It will leave Carrickfergus at 3.30am on Friday morning and be carried via
Fortwilliam at 5.45am
Stranmillis at 7.30am
Hilden at 10.00am
Lisburn Island Centre at 10.30am
Hillsborough at 12 noon
Dromore at 2pm
Banbridge at 4pm – followed by a parade in the town.
Scarva at 6.30pm

The lambeg drum will then be carried via Newry and Drogheda to arrive at the Boyne Heritage Centre around 10.30am on Saturday, June 11.        

Keep up to date with the latest news and follow the drums progress on Facebook page Drumming for Heroes.  If you would like to make a donation
You can by sending cheques made payable to LOL 423 c/o
8 Victoria Street, Banbridge , Co. Down BT32 3DQ                                                                                      

Women's Association Church Service and Parade

Upcoming Parade & Service

Sunday 29th May

Women’s Service

Assemble North Belfast Memorial Orange Hall at 2.15 pm.

FLAGSHIP TWELFTHS SELECTED

Two Twelfth demonstrations have been selected as flagships for the biggest festival in Northern Ireland.

The flagships will be the standard bearers for the 18 demonstrations being organised by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland on Tuesday, July 12, 2011.

The Twelfth in Randalstown, organised by the East Antrim Combine, and the Mid-Down demonstration in Comber, will enjoy flagship status this year.

Grand Lodge will now work closely with the organisers of the flagships to promote the Twelfth.

The Orange Order Director of Services, Dr. David Hume explained:

“This is the sixth anniversary of our Twelfth Tourist Flagship programme and we believe that it has been a huge success and has helped to develop the potential of the parades. We know that more than half a million people either take part in the parades or watch them – that is a huge proportion of the population. For very many people it is the biggest day of the year.

“There is strong evidence that an increasing number of tourists are planning trips to Northern Ireland at that time of year so they can see the parades. All of our parades are very important and we will be working with all the organisers to maximise the positive impact of the Twelfth parades. But Grand Lodge decided that we should put a special effort into the two flagship demonstrations in Randalstown and Comber.

“The Twelfths in Randalstown and Comber will be big occasions with huge crowds. The organisers are working on programmes of events leading up to the big day and there will be plenty for people to see and enjoy.

“The idea behind the Flagship Twelfths is to look at the demonstrations through the eyes of tourists. We are thrilled by the number of people who come out to enjoy the Twelfth but we are never really satisfied. We want even more people, and visitors, to enjoy the spectacle and understand its importance to this community.

“Cultural tourism is a growing industry and we are determined that the Orange Order will play its part in developing this sector of business. We have been working closely with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland to attract more visitors to the province in July and they have been extremely helpful.

“The Twelfth of July offers a unique opportunity for the Orange Institution and the bands community to showcase our culture and heritage and we are confident of welcoming increasing numbers of visitors, tourists and families, to the event in the years ahead. While every Twelfth celebration is in our opinion worth visiting, the flagship venues have an added element of specifically catering for tourists through the Welcome Host programme and additional attractions and we are delighted at the efforts made by those venues.”

The Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Edward Stevenson, said:

“The Twelfth is a unique day. It has special significance in the history and culture of our country and is enjoyed by massive crowds. There is no other single event that can produce crowds like the Twelfth. Right across Northern Ireland, and in Co. Donegal the weekend before, tens of thousands of people will be attending Twelfth demonstrations. There are 18 different locations in Northern Ireland, all with distinct characteristics that make it such a special day of religion, culture, music and pageantry.

“We want people to visit theTwelfth and enjoy the atmosphere for themselves and we believe that the work we are doing with the tourist authorities is crucially important.”

The East Antrim Twelfth in Randalstown will see approximately 3,000 Orangemen, from nine districts, on parade. About 60 bands will take part in the parade, which will also include the Junior Orange Order, Ladies Orange Lodges and members from England and Scotland.

This year is the 95th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and this takes on special significance for Randalstown as the site for the Twelfth Field at Dunmore Park was used as a training camp for soldiers prior to them going off to fight in France.

A number of events are planned to mark the anniversary and an exhibition of artefacts from the First World War will be on show prior to the Twelfth.

The other Flagship Twelfth is in Comber and more than 60 lodges, accompanied by about 40 bands, will be on parade in the historic town.

Comber is the gateway to the tourist area surrounding Strangford Lough and is rich in heritage. It was the home of the Andrew’s Family who were key in the building of the Titanic and a large statue of the 18th century Army General Rollo Gillespie stands in the square. The town is also the birthplace of Edwin De Wind, who won a Victoria Cross in the First World War.

The organisers are drawing up plans for a number of major local events leading up the Twelfth.

The Rossnowlagh Twelfth in Co. Donegal will be on Saturday, July 9.

The demonstrations in Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, July 12, will be in:

Belfast, Killylea, Lisnaskea, Stewartstown, Sixmilecross, Clogher,Limavady, Ballyronan, Cullybackey, Ballycastle, Broughshane, Randalstown, Ballymena, Aghalee, Holywood, Comber, Rathfriland and Ballymartin.

Congratulations to HRH Prince William, and the Duchess of Cambridge

The Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of

Royal York LOL 145

would like to offer their warmest congratulations on this, the wedding day of

HRH Prince William & the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton

May their future together be a long and happy one.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Widows Fund Church Service and Parade

Upcoming Parade & Service

Sunday 1st May

C.o B. Widow’s Fund Annual Church Service and parade in Townsend St. Presbyterian Church

Assemble 2.15 pm.

A LAMBEG DRUM FOR HEROES

The trail blazing charity effort by members of Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423 is making good progress.
 

The aim of the event is to raise funds for the charity HELP FOR HEROES which helps injured service men and women when they return from duty around the world.

The challenge is to follow in the steps of King William III, and carry a Lambeg Drum from his landing place at Brixham, Devon, all the way to the Boyne Heritage Centre at Drogheda. The first leg of the journey has been completed by members of London LOL 1689, taking the drum to Exeter, Portsmouth, The Houses of Parliment, London, Hereford, Manchester and Liverpool, raising funds at various functions and events along the way.


The next leg of the journey began last week when the drum was handed over to Glasgow LOL 162 at Carlisle. More fund raising will take place as the drum makes its way through Scotland to cross the Irish Sea and land at Carrickfergus on Friday, June 10 this year.


Members of LOL 423 will then, along with their Scottish and English brethren, make their way on foot all the way to the Boyne.

“It has been a major logistical exercise for the Orange Institution,” said David Watson of Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423.
“But the effort and planning has been worth it. We have received tremendous support from our Orange brethren, the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
We have taken a lambeg drum to the top of Slieve Donard and Ben Nevis for charity, but this trip is really special.

“It is for an incredibly good cause – Help for Heroes – and we have been humbled by the response from the Orange Institution and the wider public. So far we have raised £25,000 but we hope that figure will go up much more.

“We can’t wait for the drum to arrive in Northern Ireland and begin its journey to the Boyne.”

Keep up to date with the latest news and follow the drums progress on Facebook page Drumming for Heroes.
 

If you would like to make a donation you can by sending cheques made payable to LOL 423 c/o
8 Victoria Street, Banbridge , Co. Down BT32 3DQ

St. Patricks Day, Sunday Service and Parade

Upcoming Parade & Service

Sunday 13th March

No.3 District Service and parade in the Nelson Memorial Church

Assemble 2.15pm.