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Apprentice Boys step out for start of the marching season
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
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Hundreds of Apprentice Boys kicked off the 2009 marching season yesterday with parades across Northern Ireland.
Dozens of traditional Easter Monday marches were followed by the main demonstration in Larne, Co Antrim.
The marches marked the first major day of parading in the new season, which will see thousands of parades take place through the summer months.
Police said there were no reported incidents of trouble in the morning parades.
In past years, some marches have led to stand-offs or clashes involving marchers, Catholic residents and police. However, last year was one of the quietest on record.
The Apprentice Boys’ Easter Monday parade is traditionally hosted by a different Amalgamated Committee of the Association each year.
This year was the turn of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee, who held the demonstration in Larne.
Officers of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee, General Committee and guests formed up yesterday morning in Point Street.
The parade was led by the General Committee Colour Party and the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band and marched through Point Street, Upper Main Street, Bridge Street and Inver Road before entering the War Memorial.
A short service of remembrance and wreath-laying took place before the parade reformed and made its way to the assembly field. The parade moved off at about 1pm.
The Apprentice Boys were not the only ones on the march yesterday — republicans also continued their celebrations of the anniversary of the Easter Rising.
And several classic car clubs also registered their Easter outtings with the Parades Commission.
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bb you sound like an idiot, twittering on thinking you're important. I am totally with Anon, I am Protestant but do not appreciate the sideshow some of the lads put on.
Posted by Jen | 15.04.09, 16:06 GMT
bb, perhaps you could point out where I labelled ALL Apprentice Boys with blame for this incident? I was pointing out that since they are representing an organisation they did so in a very poor fashion. no amount of excuse making about youth or the colourful, elaborate language you use changes the facts of the situation. Grown men exposing themselves to young children by urinating, littering, drinking and insulting other park users. Those involved can only hang their heads in shame.
How about I and all my mates urinate infront of your kids? would that be acceptable? Just coz it's the apprentice boys or football fans or whatever, it's no excuse..
Posted by anon | 15.04.09, 14:22 GMT
It would be most unfortunate if people were to make assumption about your religion based on your surname anon. However as you show such sensitivity in qualifying criticism of practise of cultures you state are degraded, it seems to me that you concur as to the exsistence of a policy of defamation & degradation. In this context, is it not dangerous to conflagrate ethnic procession with the incidental alleged affront of drunk young men getting off a bus to pee ? Which, we can all cheerfully admit, (bar those pursuing policy), is a common feature of libation, youth and bus travel? And lets not even start on football fans. Or the guy with "rebels" written on some sort of extravagant hockey jersey who did indeed pee on my wee granny's hedge in full veiw of said wee granny. you can appreciate how ascribing blame to this to the entire (controversial) sporting body would be an exercise in bigotry. Yes. you can.
Have a lovely 12th / good pro-segregation protest one and all!
Posted by bb | 15.04.09, 13:38 GMT
Phil, well no, my name gives the impression to some that I'm Catholic, I thought Anon would save any confusion, but I see that it's still opened up the opportunity to be mistakenly called a bigot. I'm supposedly from the same ethnic background as these marchers, just to clear the record. You can say what you like, fact remains there were kids in that park and grown men in their uniforms urinating infront of everyone, I would be equally as disgusted by anyone regardless of their organisation. If they wear the uniform they represent the organisation at that time and should behave themselves.
Enjoy your marches this year.
Posted by anon | 15.04.09, 10:55 GMT
time to beat the big drum in sheer frustration - roll on 1691, we're ready to abolish witch burning (temporarily)
Posted by John Roberts | 14.04.09, 22:50 GMT
The marching season again begins the season of polarisation for Northern Ireland. Be honest, who actually remembers anything about 1690? So let's put history behind us, stop this silly marching and allow Northern Ireland to move into the 21st century like the rest of Europe.
Posted by Bill | 14.04.09, 19:34 GMT
It just shows the true bigot that posts with 'Anon'
Posted by Phil | 14.04.09, 18:52 GMT
I, along with the vast majority of tolerant people, look forward to these religious and cultural processions that are indigenous to Ireland. If only I could say, secure in the knowledge that the best possible practises of modesty and toleration will be employed by those who may object to religious and cultural processions from cultures other than their own. And to anon, if people are abusing public facilities, please do report it to the police and remember that these are the actions of individuals and that attempts to associate the negative behaviour of individuals to a cultural group is considered racist under European law. I would ask you to respect that, given the policy of defamation towards the loyal orders by certain parties, that the confabulation of suggested individual negative behaviour with the definite assertion that such is truly ambassadorial, is likely to be interpreted as in keeping with said policy. I have never seen an Orange man urinate in the street in my life.
Posted by bb | 14.04.09, 16:36 GMT
A parade in any given town or city in the USA must be open to all as a part of the prade if they so desire. A permit is issued and traffic must be brought into the picture. For one group to go around marching and holding back traffic is wrong. Why not have one big prade for all and get it over with?
Posted by phl | 14.04.09, 16:32 GMT
If only we could always just respect each other's cultures. In our wee country we know how to enjoy ourselves, so why can't we just enjoy both cultures. How wonderful it would be!!
Posted by Nee-Naw | 14.04.09, 15:05 GMT
hard to beat. best time of the year. We should al appreciate what a great spectacle we have here in this country. Now with a greater sense of peace here, more tourists will have the opertunity to see Ulster unique marching band movement. All the best lads for the marching season.
Posted by Rob | 14.04.09, 13:46 GMT
Oh dear, that time of the year again when they go on the march.
Posted by William | 14.04.09, 12:26 GMT
True ambassador's to their organisation: the rowdy crowd of Apprentice boys that amassed off an Ulster bus at the Loughshore Park, Jordanstown yesterday to urinate in front of young families using the park and passing traffic. Then to shout insults at dog walkers and leave empty bottles along with their bodily waste at the side of the road. There's a public toilet less than a minute away (and bins everywhere) from where they decided to soil. Celebrate your traditions by all means, but don't be pigs in the process... ...and no, I'm not a Nationalist or a Republican.
Posted by anon | 14.04.09, 12:22 GMT