Somme parades in Ballymena

Wednesday, July 1, will see two separate Battle of the Somme Commemoration Parades and Services held in Ballymena.
The Memorial Park, Ballymena. (Editorial Image)The Memorial Park, Ballymena. (Editorial Image)
The Memorial Park, Ballymena. (Editorial Image)

The first parade, organised by the Royal British Legion Ballymena branch and accompanied by Castlegore Flute Band, will get underway at 6.30pm when it will set off from Trostan Avenue, moving along Castle Street, Bridge Street and Waveney Road to Galgorm Road for a service at the Memorial Park.

The parade will embark at 7.20pm on the return route, passing along Galgorm Road, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Broadway, Church Street, and Castle Street arriving at the Services Club, Trostan Avenue, at 7.30pm.

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At that time, the 1st July Commemoration Committee’s parade will set off from Wakehurst.

Accompanied by Craigywarren UVF Band and Glenhugh Flute Band, and with an expected 150 participants, the parade will pass along Queen Street, Salisbury Square, Harryville Bridge, Waveney Road, and Galgorm Road to the Memorial Garden for a service of commemoration.

It is scheduled to set off on the return journey at 8.05pm, parading from the Galgorm Road to the Pentagon, George Street, Linenhall Street, Bridge Street, Harryville Bridge, Larne Street, to Ken’s Car Park for 9pm.

Meanwhile on Sunday, June 28, a Battle of the Somme Commemoration Service will be held by the Broughshane Royal British Legion branch at the village war memorial at 3pm. The opening day of the Somme campaign was the bloodiest in Ballymena’s military history.