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The townland of
Ballymoughan is situated approx. one mile outside Magherafelt and like
many other rural communities in Ulster, has it’s own Orange Lodge –
Ballymoughan Purple Guards L.O.L. 1262. The Lodge has been in existence
for near 100 years, starting off with the customary Lambeg Drums and later
on developed into a Flute Band. The Lodge and Band drew membership from
Magherafelt and the surrounding areas.
In 1979 however, with
Band membership dwindling, it was decided to move the Band into the ‘Blood
and Thunder’ category following the lead of Millrow Loyalists and
Cookstown Sons of William in the bands local area. In the first few years
of the Band, the uniform consisted of purple jumpers, black dickey bows,
white shirt and black trousers with an orange stripe for good measure. It
was a lot cheaper in those days to rig out a band. The Band went from
strength to strength with over 40 bands attending their side drum
Dedication and Parade in 1982.
The uniform was changed in the mid
1980’s to a shirt with Band badge and Band tie, with the jumpers being
sidelined for good. The Band had a good few years, but with leadership
changes etc, by the end of the decade, numbers and morale was low. The
1980’s had its highs and lows like many of Ulster’s other bands, with,
surely, the two lowest points being the murder of two Lodge members and
great supporters of the Band by the enemies of Ulster. Bro. Alan Ritchie
was killed in 1981 and Bro. Harry Henry in 1987. Although sad times for
the Lodge and Band, it was decided that these two men would have wanted us
to carry on and build the band up and show the men of violence their
murderous campaign would not silence our culture. The BassDrum in
Ballymoughan Purple Guards Flute Band is dedicated to the memory of these
two fine Sons of Ulster.
The 1990’s have been
quite good for the Band, with the usual purchases of new uniforms’
periodically and drums etc with membership staying steady. Trips have
been made to Scotland, to lead Scottish Brethern on their Annual Parade,
but the Greatest Honour the Band has had bestowed on it was to lead
Magherafelt District in Loughgall on the 200th Anniversary of
the formation of the Orange Order in 1995.
The present Band badge
and bannerette is dedicated to the 36th Ulster Division, the
Battalion of Ulster volunteers whom fought and died in the First World
War. Many local men from South Londonderry went to War and did not return
and the Band thought it fitting that local people realise and know about
the sacrifice that these brave soldiers made for Britain.
The Band travels across
Ulster to parades every year and now draws membership from three counties
- Londonderry, Tyrone and Antrim, which is a credit to any Band. We hold
our Annual Band Parade on the Last Saturday in June with it falling this
year on Saturday 26th June 1999.
The band asks only to be
accepted as expressing our culture and identity, that is our foundation
that we build on. We do not submit to the argument that we offend our
neighbours, all we ask the people of Magherafelt is this one Saturday
night, in order to express our culture.
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