flute band

Our Wee Town

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These placards for two local flute-bands are on light-poles in Markethill: above, the Kilcluney Volunteers flute band (Fb), below, the Markethill Protestant Boys (Fb). The crossed rifles and RIR emblem, and the graveside mourner and poppies, are WWI imagery; Markethill men joined the second battalion of the Armagh brigade of the Ulster Volunteers and (in the Great War) the ninth battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. (See also UVF 3rd Battalion Armagh in Tandragee).

Main Street, Markethill, Co Armagh

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Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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Ulster’s Chosen Few

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This entry updates the images seen at the end of 2022 (in Loyalist Movilla). The UDA board with hooded gunmen (above) remains as before but the tarp below it is new (though perhaps relocated from the Glen estate). The other two tarps are also new: “Newtownards supports British Armed Forces – They served us all” with the emblems of the Paratroop Regiment, the SAS, the RIR and the UDR, and, “North Down First Flute [Fb], LOL 111 Newtownards – Ulster’s chosen few”.

George’s Street, Movilla, Newtownards

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Lest We Forget

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Here is a gallery of images from the wall behind the Shore Road ‘World Wars’ memorial (see Remembrance Sunday) which has a few new additions and re-ordered boards for this year’s commemorations. The main additions are the “Lest we forget” stencil shown above, and a large number of white crosses in the grass and along the fence bearing the emblem of the UDR. The UDR board has been moved from the slanted wall at the far left to what is now the central position on the wall.

For images from Sunday’s ceremonies at City Hall, see BBC.

Frank Pantridge was featured in September. The

November 4th

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Ulster Young Defenders

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This is a fiftieth anniversary (1974-2024) board celebrating the “Ulster Young Defenders F[lute] B[and], Sandy Row.” It is on the side of the Sandy Row Rangers Supporters’ Club, above a composite board of six old Sandy Row bars including the Shaftesbury Arms, the Albion, the Royal, the Sandhurst, and the Klondyke.

“In tribute to all UYD members, past and present.” ‘The Final Chapter'”

See also: a small UYD mural in 1990.

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Tiger’s Bay Loyal

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“Welcome to the homeland of Tiger’s Bay Loyal flute band. “He is our God, and we are the people.”” Tiger’s Bay Loyal [Fb] is a new flute band, formed in 2025.

Ten local streets are named around the central tiger: Robina Street, Edlingham Street, Mervue Street, Upper Mervue Street, Hallidays Road, Mackey Street, Cosgrave Heights, North Queen Street, Canning Street, Hogarth Street.

The banner itself is in Mervue Street. The Tiger’s Bay First Flute mural remains.

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Generation To Generation

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Here are two new small boards on the fence where Hawthorn Avenue and Sandes Court meet between Woodburn and Sunnylands. Above, “Remembering our fallen everyday [sic]” with images of soldiers from the World Wars and UVF emblems in the corners. Below, an Ulster Grenadiers flute band (Fb) board, similar to the large board mounted last year (2024) in St Bride’s Street – see Never Forget, Always Remember.

The main board, on the gable beyond – “Loyalist Woodburn celebrates 100th anniversary Northern Ireland” – and Captain Sir Tom Moore remain as in 2022’s entry – see Maintain The Union.

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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Billy Anderson

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“William Anderson Garden Of Remembrance – In memory of Billy Anderson”. Billy “The Brick” Anderson was a member of the Pride Of Ballybeen flute band (Fb) – there is a small version of the band’s emblem above the black plaque in the image above.

“Cuidich ‘n Righ” [help the king] is the motto of the Highlanders. The emblem also appears on the band’s mural at the top of the estate (and below the Buster Keenan mural in east Belfast).

Millar’s Lane, on the old bonfire site at the bottom of Ballybeen estate, Dundonald

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Great And Durable

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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 was not in operation between 1993 and 2013 (NI World) but re-formed some time around 2021. This new piece replaces the faded board seen in 2023’s In A Foreign Land.

“‘Nothing great and durable can be created without the presence of an elite’ – SLMMFB” with a list of battalions from the Londonderry And North Antrim brigade of the UDA: Londonderry, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Bushmills, and “South Londonderry & East Tyrone”.

The quotation (“Nothing great and durable …”) seems to be a UDA creation; it has been used in other UDA murals in east Belfast (T00245) and Larne (J1611/J2039).

The faded mural on the wall in front is called I’m A Local Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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The People’s Band

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“Shankill Protestant Boys [Fb] “The People’s Band” 45th anniversary, 1980-2025.” The band held a parade on August 1st to commemorate the anniversary, with nearly forty other bands attending (Fb).

For “USSF”, see the Peter Moloney Collection. The band’s club is in Bell Close – see SPB Way.

Shankill Road, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2025 Paddy Duffy
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