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(Issued to Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter, Ballymena
Times and Ballymena Guardian) |
On 20 September 1999, the anti-parades body, The
Parades Commission for Northern Ireland, released their determination to
the Mid-Ulster Regimental Bands Association Parade in Portadown on
Saturday 25 September 1999.
In their ruling, four bands were prohibited from attending, one of which
is affiliated to the Ulster Bands Association, Pride of the Maine Flute
Band from Ballymena.
The Parades Commission have claimed that this was due to 'serious breaches
of the Commissions Code of Conduct' at a Parade in Portadown on 3 July
1999.
Given that the aforementioned band were not at this parade, it is shameful
to name the band in their determination.
It also furthermore demonstrates that the Parades Commission are
completely clueless when it comes to the unique cultural identity of the
Loyalist Marching Band.
Pride of the Maine Flute Band are one of Ulster's best known and well
behaved marching bands, therefore this action is a slur on their
reputation, especially as the Parades Commission publish their
determinations Worldwide on the Internet.
The Ulster Bands Association call for the Parades Commission to publicly
apologise for their stupidity which has undoubtedly caused irreparable
damage to the bands standing.
At 4:50pm on Friday 24th September 1999 The Parades Commission faxed the
Ulster Bands Association's HQ to revoke their earlier ruling regarding
Pride of the Maine Flute Band.
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