History of Castlederg Young Loyalists. Castlederg Young Loyalists Flute Band was formed in 1977, prior to their formation there had been an Accordion band which was associated with the local lodge Bridgetown No Surrender LOL 379 and the local preceptory Castlederg Chosen Few No: 556. In early 1977 A meeting was held in Bridgetown Orange hall by the members of LOL 379 they wanted to disband the Accordion Band and start a new Flute Band as the up keep of the Accordions were so expensive. The meeting was attended by members of the lodge and members of the accordion band. It was agreed that a flute band would be formed to replace the accordion band. Two of the lodge members who are now deceased had a central role in helping to get the band formed namely Bob McKinley and Billy Donnell. An advert was placed in the local papers seeking members and the response was overwhelming. Omagh Protestant Boys Flute Band were approached and asked if some of their members would be prepared to come to Castlederg and teach the new band and they kindly agreed to this request and the two bands have had a great friendship ever since. The new Flute Band Named Castlederg Young Loyalists were dedicated on the 22nd of October 1977. Castlederg Young Loyalists are now in their 37th year marching and parading in a town that had the reputation as the most bombed town in Northern Ireland. During the troubles the band had four members murdered the first being Norman McKinley who was killed on the 14th of July 1984 age 31 Norman was a son of Bob McKinley who helped form our band; Heather Kerrigan age 20 was also killed in the same incident Heather wasn‘t a member of the band but did play part in our colour party in a few occasions. The next was Michael Darcy age 28 shot dead as he returned home from a band parade on the 4th of June 1988. Then it was Ian Sproule age 23 who was gunned down by the IRA on the 13th of April 1991 as he returned home after a night out . Next on the hit list was Christopher Folliard age 30 Shot dead on the 31st October 2001. Winston Donnell was the first UDR Soldier to be murdered in the troubles in Northern Ireland; Winston was a brother of Billy Donnell who started our band and uncle of our current band master Trevor Donnell. The band has paraded in the capital city of London with the apprentice boys during the protest over the changing of the name Londonderry to Derry, In 1984 the band travelled to Scotland for the twelth of July celebrations for the first time and have been going over every year since’ they also go over to play at concerts for lodges and bands etc, and have formed a great bond of friendship with their Scottish brethren. At home the band travels all over the six counties including the Republic of Ireland supporting other bands as well as attending the main loyal order parades. It also attends a lot of indoor battle of the bands competitions which it has had great success in’ fighting off competition from some of the best bands in Northern Ireland. In 2007 the band celebrated its 30th anniversary and released a 30th anniversary cd. They also formed a cyl auld boys band which seen some of its former members joining up again. The auld boys band now parade at local parade’s and also every year at the Castlederg young Loyalists annual parade. In 2009 the author Darach McDonald followed the Castlederg Young Loyalists to all the parades they went to for the year to Write the book Blood and Thunder inside an Ulster Protestant Band’ the book was launched in June 2010 in Omagh library’ in the first two weeks the book reached number one best seller in Northern Ireland. The band now is one of the most respected bands in Northern Ireland.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:01:44 +0000
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