Largest ever ‘Boys’ parade takes place in glorious sunshine

A record number of 140 bands took part in the parade which celebrates the Relief of Londonderry in 1689 after the 105-day-long siege that claimed thousands of lives within the ancient walls of the city. Bands from all six counties of Northern Ireland were in attendance.

To match the largest amount of musicians on parade approximately 15,000 members of the loyal order and a matching number of spectators-numbers which the leadership of the Apprentice Boys say make last weekend’s parade the largest in living memory.

Temperatures in the city soared to a burning 22 degrees at the height of the parade, but this did not wilt the spirits of those members on parade clad in suits, ties and collarettes nor indeed the spirits of band members in heavy uniforms and carrying instruments.

Governor General of the Apprentice Boys, Jim Brownlee said: “This is the largest parade we hold each year. It was the 323rd anniversary of the Relief of Londonderry, but it is actually much more than that. It is the focal point of the Glorious Revolution of the 17th century and in that was gained the civil and religious freedoms we enjoy to this day. Our detractors who say we shouldn’t parade should remember that the freedoms they enjoy today came as a consequence of the Siege and of the relief of this city.”

Spectators thronged to all available viewpoints to watch the parade from Irish Street in the Waterside right down to each side of Craigavon Bridge and into the heart of the city at The Diamond and at Society Street, the home of the organisation’s headquarters, the Memorial Hall.

Traditional parts of the parade were again observed from around 9am on Saturday when representatives of the loyal order’s Parent Clubs paraded around Londonderry’s Walls, in itself a walk of about a mile. This was followed by the annual Service of Thanksgiving at St Columb’s Cathedral and the paying of respects to the war dead by the laying of wreaths at the city’s cenotaph.

This years parade was bolstered by the inclusion on parade of six new clubs within the organisation. These included two from Scotland, one from Portadown, one from Fermanagh and one from Canada. The parade also included for the first time a newly established club from County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland. In honour of receiving their charter from the Apprentice Boys the new Campsie Club from Brampton in Ontario, Canada, walked at the head of the parade with the loyal order’s General Committee.

After the parade, General Secretary of the Apprentice Boys, William Moore, said: “The day went exceptionally well for all our members and every tourist and spectator that came into the city. I am delighted that the great weather helped to enhance the day for everyone. This was the biggest parade in memory and we will look forward to more new clubs parading next year and indeed to making 2013 and 2014 even better again.”