Ballymoney has the 'wow' factor!

Speaking to the parade organisers, one gentleman visitor commented: “We accompanied our family and friends in the Commons Silver Band all the way from Newry and have spent the whole day in Ballymoney. Ballymoney is a really lovely town and the Ulster Scots Festival organised through the day by the band has been absolutely fantastic, almost unique in fact in terms of banding throughout the province.

“The kids have had a ball having their faces painted and messing around on the bouncy castles and I don’t think there’s a shop in town my wife hasn’t been into. This town is fantastic to visit and the people here are so friendly and welcoming we will definitely be back again next year.

Indeed this was not the only expression of delight at the warmth of the famous Ballymoney welcome. From 1pm that day, the town was thronged with visitors from the locality and from further afield as the Castlecroft area came alive to the sounds of flutes, drums, accordions and more in the traditional Ulster Scots Festival organised by the band. A crowd of up to 1000 people at its maximum enjoyed a feast of entertainment laid on by the band and local shops, cafes and business’ reported tills that were ringing from the large amount of customers and increased trade. The whole town centre was filled with music and a bustling and lively audience gave all the performers an enthusiastic round of applause.

After the festival concert was over, the music theme continued with performances from the Commons Silver Band and the Sir George White Memorial in High Street whilst onlookers were entertained at Castlecroft by the hugely popular Lambeg drums and the equally popular Bailies Mills Accordion Band. By this time, the town had taken on an almost cosmopolitan feel as an estimated 10 000 people poured into it’s streets to listen to the music and take advantage of the many cafes and shops that had stayed open late to cater for their needs. Every vantage point was taken up and the atmosphere was almost electric with the sense of anticipation that awaited the beginning of the procession of bands. At 8pm on the dot, the assembled spectators were greeted by the resounding sound of the Commons Silver Band as they led a parade of 83 bands around the traditional town parade route.

The parade was represented by bands from all six counties of Northern Ireland and a real carnival atmosphere prevailed as members of the Dunloy Accordion Band gave out sweets, balloons and flags to the children and many families who were enjoying the spectacular collection of bands. The ‘friendly faces’ characters also added to the great atmosphere with their antics and capers to the delight of the crowd.

The parade finally ended in traditional style with the host band finishing off the huge procession before returning to the Townhead Street car park.

After the parade one family man commented: “This parade has it all. There’s a real family atmosphere around the town and I am able to bring my children out to see brilliant bands that you never normally get a chance to see. We were down at the Festival concert earlier too and one of the notable features of the whole day has been that Dunloy band has laid all of this on for us at absolutely no cost to any of the spectators. It’s been absolutely brilliant and I think particularly commendable was the fact that the band members were even out cleaning rubbish off the streets after they finished parading.”

A spokesperson for the band said after the parade: “To say we are overwhelmed by the response to the parade this year doesn’t even come close. The bands who attended the parade are absolutely delighted at the response of the townspeople towards them as they paraded along the route and the Bands’ Forums on the internet are full of comments from bands people from all over the province, delighted at the reaction and cheers received from the spectators. This is what brings the bands back year after year and many think that Ballymoney is the town to parade in.

“Can we just say a massive thank you to anyone and everyone who helped make the parade and festival the success it has been. In particular to the people of the town whose continued support we just couldn’t do without and who make all of this possible.”

The band would like to thank all the bands, artistes, marshalls, collectors, door staff, service providers, spectators and anyone who helped make the parade a fantastic success and a fantastic 7888.34 was raised for band funds. Also thanks to Ballymoney Borough Council and the Ulster Scots Agency for their help and assistance.