flute band

The Gunrunners

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“Operation Lion” was the code named for what is commonly known as the Larne Gunrunning using the ship Clyde Valley which had been renamed Mountjoy II for the occasion (WP) and which now lends its name to a flute band in the area. The hooded gunman on the right is carrying a more modern rifle, rather than surplus German and Italian WWI rifles that came ashore in April, 1914 (Full 30).

For a wide shot containing both pieces, see Norman Anderson.

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Norman Anderson

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RUC Constable Norman Anderson was set upon and executed in 1961 by the IRA on the Fermanagh border as he returned from visiting his Co Monaghan girlfriend (SEFF) but he and his family hailed from Larne and he is remembered by the Constable Anderson Memorial flute band (emblem below), which was formed in the same year (Fb), and the Auld Boys (emblem above). These are two of three flute bands in the Factory area of Larne, along with the Clyde Valley flute band – see The Gunrunners.

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X09330 X09328 X09329 Herbert Ave border campaign auld boys

Marching Band

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In this board the Rising Sons Flute Band (“RSFB”) portrays itself as following in the footsteps of the Ulster Volunteers who joined the British Army and specifically the 8th battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in the 36th (Ulster) Division, which was drawn from east Belfast’s Ulster Volunteers in 1914. The insignia for the battalion is usually shown as dark blue rather than the black shown here – see the mural of 36th Division insignia in Canada Street. There is a similar board outside the band’s practice hall in Castlereagh Street.

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X08768 X8767 thiepval memorial

Whiterock FB

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The Whiterock flute band (Fb | spotify) was founded in 1962 and the band’s display in Brookmount Street (originally mounted in 2014 – see M10195) contains a ‘brief history’ and photographs from different decades, to which was added (on the right) an updated history and a list of members past and present. The most recent addition to the wall was a memorial – shown below – to band-member Alex Thompson, who died in May 2019 after 56 years in the band – he is mentioned in both the ‘brief history’ of the band and the updated history.

(Also, the advertising hoarding above the mural has come off.)

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Forever Young

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On this date twenty years ago (November 11th, 2001 – Remembrance Sunday) sixteen year-old Glen “Spacer” Branagh was killed by the premature blast of a pipe bomb he was carrying during a riot with New Lodge nationalists. He was affiliated with Tiger’s Bay First flute band – which held a memorial parade for him on October 16th (youtube) – and the UDA/UYM – for which see the old “Young Guns” mural on the site of the current Duncairn community garden. Distant relative Kenneth Branagh was also born in Tiger’s Bay (An Phoblacht), before leaving at age nine with his family in 1969 (WP); his film Belfast will be released in the USA tomorrow.

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Portadown True Blues

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This time last year, Portadown True Blues flute band (Fb) was preparing for a trip to Toronto, Canada, for an international celebration of the Twelfth (News Letter) but it was cancelled on account of the pandemic. This blue board was an update of their long-standing purple mural in Edgarstown next to the Somme mural, also featured below (and previously in In Answer To The Echo Of Alarm.

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Milltown Young Volunteers

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This is a vintage board in Milltown (south Belvoir), carved and painted with the YCV/UVF emblems but with “MYV” instead of “YCV”. The band’s last on-line presence seems to be from a decade ago, playing in Rathcoole.

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X07899 Ballycairn Rd

Pride Of The Park

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Pride Of The Park (Fb) is the local flute band in Armoy. Practices are usually on Monday nights in Park Orange Hall. The lettering is at the junction of Gracehill and Drones roads.

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#SafeShankill

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Social distancing was hard to maintain in some areas (BelTel) but many people celebrated the 12th from home this year, thank in part to messages such as appear on this pair of paste-ups in Olive Street and Glenvale Street off the Woodvale Road. “This year the bands are coming to you!” “This year’s 12th is about the battle with the [coronavirus] bug.”

X07786 2020-12-11 Prot Flute+

X07785 2020-12-11 Prot Boy+

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Pride Of The Shore

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“Pride of the Shore flute band [Fb]. In memory of past members. SRT [Shore Road Tartan].” Part of the Joint Forces memorial on York Road.

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