Apprentice Boys hold remembrance parade amid small protest in Belfast
The Apprentice Boys staged a Remembrance parade through Belfast city centre on Saturday morning as around 40 nationalist protestors looked on.
The Parades Commission had ruled that only hymns could be played from the bottom of Donegall Street to Clifton Street. Bands all played hymns or a single drum beat while passing St Patrick’s church, however one band struck up the tune of the Famine Song along Clifton Street.
Officials from the Apprentice Boys stopped the tune being played shortly after it had been started.
The News Letter witnessed nationalist protester turning their backs on the parade on Donegall Street as it passed, while on Clifton Street one nationalist protester ran through the parade. The Apprentice Boys have claimed its members were spat at, verbally assaulted and attempts were made to physically assault them. However the event passed off peacefully.
The parade included around ten clubs and five bands starting from the Donegall Pass before moving through Shaftsbury Square. Great Victoria Street and College Square South to Belfast City Hall where a wreath was laid in remembrance of the war dead. The parade then proceeded along Royal Avenue and up Donegall Street to the Shankill Road via Denmark Street where a wreath was laid at the Shankill Garden of Remembrance.
Former Ulster Unionist councillor Chris McGimpsey was among those on parade.
Around 40 nationalist residents led by Carrick Hill Residents Coalition chairman Frank Dempsey and politicians including Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin and Sinn Fein councillor Conor Maskey took part in a protest outside St Patrick’s church on Donegall Street. They had been permitted up to 150 protesters.
On July 12, the Young Conway Volunteers were slammed for playing the tune of the Famine Song outside St Patrick’s church, they claimed they were playing the Beach Boys’ Sloop John B, which is played to the same tune as the Fame Song.
The Apprentice Boys engaged in talks with residents before Saturday’s parade.
Father Michael Sheehan of St Patrick’s Church said he appreciated the gesture of one band playing only a single drum beat outside his doors.
“I am aware that other people said there were difficulties further up the road with the playing of The Famine Song which is a breach of the determination. If that is the case, I think that is a matter the Apprentice Boys will deal with themselves,” he told the News Letter.
Ms Ni Chuilin called for the band who played The Famine Song to be disciplined.
A spokesman for the Apprentice Boys said the incident would be examined and discussed at a meeting at the end of the month.
On Sunday the Apprentice Boys issued a statement clarifying that as soon as the band started playing the tune of The Famine Song, its members got it stopped.
A spokesman said: “Senior members of Belfast and District Amalgamated Committee immediately moved to have the band cease playing.
“This can be verified by the PSNI.
“The Apprentice Boys of Derry & Belfast & District Amalgamated Committee are concerned that there were also several breaches of the determination by Carrick Hill Resident’s Group, including attempts to physically assault their members and a number of incidents when parading & playing members were spat on by protestors, that along with the verbal abuse which was directed at this parade.
“Shortly after the completion of this parade the Belfast & District Amalgamated Committee made direct contact with Mr Dempsey to discuss the parade & also make them aware of our concerns regarding the attempted assaults of members on parade.
“Mr Dempsey made one comment & then hung up, which we felt was unhelpful given our attempt to start dialogue & discuss yesterday’s parade.
“We believe that there is still a lot of work to be done between both sides & will continue to have dialogue in an effort to coming to a mutual resolution.”
