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Forthcoming Events
Friday 13 August Queensway FB Dunmurry Wedneday 18 August Tamnamore FB Tamnamore FRIDAY 20 AUGUST PORTADOWN DEFENDERS FB ANNUAL BAND PARADE AND COMPETITION PORTADOWN Click here for more info PRACTISE INFO HERE Follow PDFB: 
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April | May | June | July | August | September Saturday 6th August 2005 - Clogher Protestant Boys - Waringstown We travelled the short journey to the village of Waringstown for the parade of Clogher Protestant Boys. This parade was definite to be big as Clogher travel the country to support other bands across Ulster and indeed the parade was big with 61 bands supporting the hosts. It was a good night for a parade, as it was warm and dry, unlike last weekends weather. From the starting point, bands queued desperately looking to amuse the awaiting crowd. This parade parade included a lot of stoppages, but that is part of the package with a large band parade. We paraded the village with 11 drums, 18 flutes, 2 bass drummers, 3 colour party and 1 drum major; overall total of 35 members. Every member was anxious to perform as this was our only parade of the weekend - and we played well under the warm conditions. During the short 'blow-off' section of the route, we came up against Armagh True Blues; Montober FB; Pride of the Hill Rathfriland and Pride of the Hill 'Auld Boys' Rathfriland. The Auld Boys were formed last year consisting of ex-members of the orginal Pride of the Hill Flute Band. The 'Ex-members re-union' is becoming popular within the band scene as many bands have followed the trend - most noticeably Pride of the Hill Auld Boys taking the idea the furthest. We were again competing against the large Blood and Thunder bands, as we had more than 15 flutes. With 61 bands attending, it must have been a hard job for the judges deciding the rightful winners. East Belfast Protestant Boys claimed most of the awards. Bands from west Ulster like Castlederg Young Loyalists and South Fermanagh Loyalists were playing to a high standard. South Fermanagh Loyalists' standard was met with a deserved 1st place in the small Blood and Thunder category. Download ·Video - Portadown Defenders - 1:26 - .wmv format - 1.91MB ·Video - Portadown Defenders - 0:48 - .wmv format - 0.95MB 
 Friday 12th August 2005 - Queensway FB - Dunmurry Tonight the band travelled to the village of Dunmurry to support Queensway Flute Band on their annual band parade. This night would not be ideal to hold a parade, due to early starts the next morning for the Relief of Derry celebrations, but the parade was well supported with 32 bands in attendance. A large crowd had gathered around the end of the parade to cheer on all the bands. We paraded the village with 7 drums, 16 flutes, 2 bass drummers, 2 colour party and 1 drum major; total of 28 members. We started off the night by playing Eaton Boat Song which definitely set the mood as it was played solidly. It was also good to listen to the crowd singing along as we paraded the streets. Thankfully this was a short parade, which allowed us to play several tunes. It was also good for us to get recognised with a 3rd Small Blood and Thunder place. A lot of bands completed 2 or 3 parades tonight, with other parades taking place in South Belfast and Carrickfergus. The finishing band; Ulster Grenadiers played to a very high standard - and deservedly won 2nd Small Blood and Thunder. They finished off with a neat drum solo, rolling into Grenadiers. Parade Results Melody Flute 1. Mourne Young Defenders Colour Party 1. Mourne Young Defenders 2. Golsprings True Defenders 3. Downshrie Guiding Star Large Blood and Thunder Drum Corps 1. Clogher Protestant Boys 2. Donaghadee Fusiliers 3. Downshire Guiding Star Small Blood and Thunder Overall 1. Pride of Lagan Valley 2. Ulster Grenadiers 3. Portadown Defenders Junior Drum Major 1. Ulster Grenadiers 2. Kilcluney Volunteers 3. Upper Falls Protestant Boys Senior Drum Major 1. Regimental UVF 2. _______________ 3. Fife and Drums Style and Appearance 1. Mourne Young Defenders 2. Regimental UVF 3. Kilcluney Volunteers Large Blood and Thunder Overall 1. Downshire Guiding Star 2. Clogher Protestant Boys 3. South Down DUP Best Overall 1. Mourne Young Defenders Saturday 13th August 2005 - Relief of Derry Celerbations - Londonderry Another long day awaited us, as we participated in the Relief of Derry Celebrations. This pageant remembers the year of 1688, when the protestants of Londonderry were under seige. The organisers of the parade, the Apprentice Boys of Derry, struggle every year to allow the parade to proceed across the Craigavon Bridge and into the West Bank of the city. The West Bank is predominately nationalist and this is the most contentious section of the parade route. Coming into the Diamond, there are perspex barriers seperating the loyalists from the procession - and the procession from the nationalists. Tensions are very high through this section of the route where both sides are shouting at each other. It can be a hard job for the marhsalls, as each band is not allowed to play coming near the war memorial, as a sign of respect for our fallen heroes. We left Clounagh Orange Hall, with Cloungh ABOD Campsie Club at approximately 8.00am, where we paraded to Carleton Street Orange Hall, where we were then met by the Portadown Branch ABOD. We were also joined by the Pride of the Birches Accoridion and Cantrills Glory Accordion from Liverpool. The Liverpudlians led the parade through Portadown town centre where it was then time for the long journey up the north. On the day, we paraded with 7 drums, 14 flutes, 2 bass drummers, 2 colour party; overall total of 25. We played a range of anthems symbolic to the day, with tunes like Apprentice Boys, No Surrender, and Derry's Walls being played. On arrival, we had several hours to spare before it was our turn to participate in the parade. The entire parade can last at least 2 hours. The weather depressed a lot of people, with the cold and damp conditons. Crossing the Craigavon Bridge we faced several bands who were happy to give their all. When we passed Kinallen FB, they were happy to give a vocal rendition of the Sash. After a long and delayed journey home, we parade the town centre for the final time. The procession was once again led by Cantrills Glory Accordion. Disappointedly, little crowds had gathered through the town cenre. Download ·Video - Portadown Defenders - 0:49 - .wmv format - 0.98MB 
 Friday 19th August 2005 - Annual Band Parade 53 weeks later, it was time for Portadown Defenders Flute Band to hold their annual band parade in the centre of Portadown. 31 bands attended with one band forwarding a colour party in their absence. Subsequently, 3 other bands that we had supported throughout the year, failed to return the support. We would like to thank every band that did return the support, as well as those who donated money through our collection on the night. A total of £1,582 was raised. Early in the night, the weather would have suited any bands member, with cool temperature and dry conditions. This then changed late on in the night, with a short spell of rain dawning down on us, but this did not affect the standard of bands on parade. We started parading at approximately 7.15pm, slightly later than planned. At this point, several band members were heading towards the starting point to parade early. On the same night, 2 other parades were taking place throughout the country; Ballymaconnelly Sons of Conquerors, Rasharkin and Red Hand Defenders Portavogie. Several of the bands that were parading early in Portadown, were bound for Portavgoie afterwards. This meant that several bands had started to parade Portadown, before the host band had finished parading the home town. Consequently, this meant that none of these bands would be judged. Bessbrook True Blues led the parade through the town centre, followed by South Down DUP; a band that has improved vastly in little months. We paraded with 11 drums, 19 flutes, 2 bass drummers, 4 colour party and 1 drum major; a total of 37 members. It was good to see bands such as Cormeen Rising Sons of William, Killylea, Defenders of the Rock, Lisbellaw, Ballyrea Boyne Defenders, Killylea and Pride of the Village, Broomhedge attend our parade as these bands had hosted their parade earlier in the parade season, with our band failing to attend all three. Downshire Guiding Star were playing well, with 12 drums and 20 flutes. Their hardcore drum corp always seems to impress and this was rewarded with a joint 2nd place in the Blood and Thunder Drum Corp category. The majority of results were collected by East Belfast Protestant Boys, were they obtained 6 first places and 1 second. The Protestant Boys also received a warm welcome in the town, with was obviously good to see. Again, we would like to thank all bands that supported us in anyway possible. We will endeavour to return your support throughout the year. List of bands that attended Bessbrook True Blues South Down DUP, Moneyslane Pride of Stramore, Gilford Ballyrea Boyne Defenders, Killyrea Kilcluney Volunteers, Markethill Clogher Protestant Boys, Waringstown Drumderg Loyalists, Keady Pride of the Birches, Portadown Pioneers, Lurgan Star of the North, Dollingstown South Down Defenders, Newry Portadown True Blues Ballylesson Old Boys Skeogh, Dromore Fife and Drums, Shore Road Pride of the Village, Broomhedge East Belfast Protestant Boys Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland Queensway, Derriaghy Kinallen, Dromore Armagh True Blues Cormeen, Rising Sons of William, Killylea Derrylee, Moy Downshire Guiding Star, Banbridge Hillsborough Protestant Boys Loyal Sons of Benagh, Newry Rising Sons of the Valley, Kilkeel Castlederg Young Loyalists Defenders of the Rock, Lisbellaw Lurgan Young Conquerors Sons of William, Rathfriland Craigavon Protestant Boys Colour Party Parade Results Best Accordion 1. Pride of the Birches Small Blood and Thunder Overall 1. Queensway, Derriaghy 2. South Down Defenders 3. Star of the North, Dollingstown Blood and Thunder Drum Corps 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Downshire Guiding Star / Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 3. Armagh True Blues Large Blood and Thunder Overall 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 3. Downshire Guiding Star Melody Drum Corps 1. Skeogh 2. Ballylesson Old Boys 3. Fife and Drums Melody Flute 1. Skeogh 2. Ballylesson Old Boys 3. Fife and Drums, Shore Road Best Bass Drum 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Downshire Guiding Star 3. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland Style and Appearance 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 3. Downshire Guiding Star Junior Drum Major 1. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 2. East Belfast Protestant Boys 3. Ballylesson Old Boys Senior Drum Major 1. Skeogh Colour Party 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 3. Downshire Guiding Star Best Overall 1. East Belfast Protestant Boys 2. Pride of the Hill, Rathfriland 3. Skeogh All of the pictures below are available in large format (2272 x 1704) on request. Also, if pictures fail to load correctly, refresh the page and this problem may be resolved. 
 Saturday 20th August 2005 - Derrylee FB - Loughgall On a weekend fulfilled with parades, we decided to support Derrylee FB in the nearby village of Loughgall for their annual band parade. A total of 7 parades took place over the two day period. This parade was well supported with a variation of flute and accordion bands on parade. Derrylee faced the same problem that we had at our annual, with bands looking to parade early to attend another parade elsewhere. After the switch from Moy to Loughgall, this parade route has improved from last year. Last year, bands paraded from one end of the village to the other, where they would then wait on all bands to complete the first section of the route, to parade back to the starting point. Now, a complete circuit has been established, with bands now passing side-by-side. We paraded the village with 5 drums, 18 flutes, 1 bass drummer, 4 colour party and 1 drum major; overall total of 29 members. This is the lowest number of drums we have paraded with all season. This did not affect us, as we had played satisfactory. Our performance was then rewarded with a Best Overall Band award, beating all the top bands like Drumderg Loyalists, Kilcluney Volunteers, South Down DUP and Clogher Protestant Boys, which is something quite remarkable. Ballymacall True Blues, a band which is always improving played to a high standard. The main instrument of any band is the bass drum, and Ballymacall should be proud to have a loud and well tuned instrument. Of the bands we passed, we played against Pride of the Birches Accordion and Armagh True Blues. 
 Friday 26th August 2005 - South Down Defenders - Newry Tonight the band travelled to the border city of Newry to support South Down Defenders Flute Band. This parade was well supported and was already thriving on the time of our arrival. Disappointedly, loyalist band parades in Newry are always restricted due to the Nationalist stronghold in the city. On the same night as this parade, a republican parade led by 'Oglaigh na hEireann' was taking place in the city centre. Fortunately, both processions did not meet. From the restrictions, all Newry parades are restricted within a small area, with the parade having to finish at a certain time. The band was on top form tonight, playing with 7 drums, 15 flutes, 3 colour party and 2 bass drummers; overall total of 27 members. We had also been awarded a 2nd Small Blood and Thunder place. Because we had paraded late on, we only band we passed was Mourne Young Defenders, who were definitely in full swing. Large crowds had gathered at the old garage to see bands parading in both directions. Impressive bands on the night were Drumderg Loyalists and Downshire Guiding Star. Both bands playing with a solid drum corp. Kinallen FB were sounding crisp and loud coming in at the end playing 'Londonderry On The Foyle. 
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