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[Kilsally]

Boys to step out for Lundy event
http://www.newslette...event_1_3302519
Raymond Walker and Billy Moore pictured at the Memorial Hall on Monday putting the finishing touches to the Lundy effigy in preparation for Saturday's Annual Apprentice Boys Parade. 2911JM21

Published on Friday 2 December 2011 08:26

UP to 1,500 Apprentice Boys are expected to step out in Londonderry on Saturday.

The annual burning of Lundy and associated march takes place in the city to commemorate the 323rd anniversary of the shutting of the gates before the Siege of Derry in 1689.

Members of the loyal order – accompanied by a number of bands – will parade through the city centre and attend a religious service before an effigy of the traitor Lundy is burned in Bishop Street.

Robert Lundy, who was a governor of the city, advocated surrendering to the advancing troops of James II in the late 17th century.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s parade, Apprentice Boys general secretary Billy Moore said the December commemoration was one of the most significant of the anniversaries in the loyalist calendar.

“If it hadn’t been for the shutting of the gates there would have been no relief of Londonderry in August and probably no Battle of the Boyne in 1690,” he said.

“The shutting of the gates was one of the most important aspects in the history of the Glorious Revolution.”

Mr Moore said that local clubs would be joined on the day by visiting brethren from across the province and further afield.

Among the visitors expected to attend are members from Scotland, London and Liverpool.

Indeed, the Apprentice Boys have undergone a resurgence in recent times through the formation of a number of new clubs.

Mr Moore said: “There are applications for nine new clubs next year, including in Northern Ireland, Scotland, London and the Republic.”

It is believed that the newly-formed clubs locally are in Portadown, Belfast and Kesh in Fermanagh.

The general secretary said he was in “no doubt” that tomorrow’s parade will pass off peacefully.

“I think there is a lot of goodwill in the city and there has been a degree of understanding which has been created over the years through dialogue and discussion.”

Mr Moore added: “I think the overwhelming majority of people in Londonderry accept that the Apprentice Boys are part of the fabric of the city and recognise we are part of the history of the city.”

As is tradition, a cannon will be fired at midnight from the city’s walls which will be followed by the “touching of the gates” when members symbolically close each of the four main gates into the city centre. Later tomorrow, visiting branch clubs are asked to assemble at the Waterside railway station prior to parading to the memorial hall at 11.30am.

The main procession is scheduled to leave Society Street at 1.15pm when members will parade to St Columb’s Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving.

Following the religious service, the parade will reassemble and return to Bishop Street for the burning of the effigy of Lundy.

A salute will be taken by officers of the General Committee – including Apprentice Boys governor Jim Brownlee – as clubs depart.

[Kilsally]

323rd Anniversary of the Shutting of the Gates
http://www.apprentic...-the-gates/2011
Saturday 3rd December 2011

This year's celebrations mark 323 years since the “Brave 13” closed the city gates in 1688. This year the Campsie Parent Club takes responsibility for the celebrations. The celebrations this year follow the pattern set out over the last few years.

As always the main focus of the celebrations will be the service of thanksgiving in St. Columb's Cathedral. Following the service, the officers of the Campsie Parent Club will lay a wreath at the Siege Heroes Mound in memory of the “Brave 13”.

The traditional burning of the effigy of “Lundy the Traitor” will bring the day's events to a conclusion.

Timetable for the Celebrations
00.00 The Celebrations will open with the symbolic firing of a cannon on the Walls. One and three times, signifying thirteen, the brave thirteen. This will be followed by the traditional “Touching of the Gates”.
10.00 General Committee will open.
11.30 All visiting Clubs will march off from the Waterside Railway Station via Duke Street, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Hawking Street, London Street, Bishop Street, Palace Street, finishing outside the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall in Society Street.
13.15 The main parade will leave Society Street headed by officers of General Committee. The parade will go via Bishop Street, The Diamond (clockwise) Ferryquay Street, Carlisle Road, Wapping Lane, Founatin Street, Hawkin Street, London Street. Finishing in the grounds of St. Columb's Cathedral.
14.00 Service of Thanksgiving in St. Columb's Cathedral. All Brethren are encouraged to attend the service as this is the focal point of the day's commemorations. At the conclusion of the service a wreath will be laid by the officers of the Baker Parent Club at the Siege Heroes Mound.
15.00 The parade will re-form and parade via the earlier route in reverse, back to Bishop Street for the burning of the Effigy of Lundy the Traitor.
15.45 With all Brethren and bands gathered in Bishop Street, the Effigy of Lundy the Traitor will be lit by a member of the Baker Club.
16.00 Visiting Clubs will return to the Waterside via Bishop Street, Hawkin Street, Carlisle Road, Craigavon Bridge, Duke Street, finishing at the Waterside Railway Station. A salute will be taken by the Governor, Officers of General Committee and Parent Clubs at Bishop Street.
“The bells will be rung and the crimson flag hoisted. A general wearing of the colour crimson is requested”

As always hot food and refreshments will be available in the Society Social Club in the Memorial Hall.

[Kilsally]

Restrictions placed on Apprentice Boys parade
http://www.newslette...arade_1_3302530

Published on Friday 2 December 2011 08:30

THE Parades Commission has been criticised for placing restrictions on an Apprentice Boys parade in Belfast this weekend.

DUP MLA Nelson McCausland slammed the parades body after it ruled that a band accompanying members of Ligoniel Walker Club will not be permitted to play music as it passes a notorious interface in the north of the city tomorrow morning.

Blue Star Accordion Band are prevented from playing any music – including hymns – on the section of the Crumlin Road from Hesketh Road to Woodvale Parade.

The traditional parade is taking place ahead of the annual Lundy commemorations in Londonderry.

Hitting out at the parades body, Mr McCausland claimed the prohibition of hymns was a “denial of religious liberty”.

“It is a sad reflection on the Parades Commission that they have prohibited the playing of Christian hymns,” the North Belfast representative said.

“It was not even a case of dictating what hymns could be played, in this case the Parades Commission have gone even further, prohibiting the playing of hymns altogether.”

Mr McCausland added: “Once again the Parades Commission is pandering to sectarianism and intolerance from nationalists and republicans in the Ardoyne area.”

When contacted by the News Letter, a spokesman for the Parades Commission said: “In the absence of local agreement in this part of north Belfast the commission is forced to intervene, and determinations such as the one issued for this weekend are not unusual.

“Our hope is that in the near future dialogue will lead to agreement and we will not be required to make determinations.”

He also noted that no band took part in last year’s parade.

Earlier this year, the Parades Commission faced the wrath of Orangemen in east Belfast when it ordered accompanying bands to play only the popular hymn Abide With Me when passing St Matthew’s chapel on the Newtownards Road during a Sunday parade in May.

Defying the ruling, two bands played alternative hymns when marching past the interface flashpoint.