A recently-reformed County Armagh band is to host its inaugural parade, with Tandragee to come alive to the sound of marching bands for the first time in over a decade.
It is 50 years since an earlier Moyrourkan True Blues was formed.
But that band sadly did not last.
It was then during a visit to the Somme when, after the discovery of a newspaper article told of the former band’s existence, that a group of friends took the decision to resurrect the short-lived Moyrourkan and the rest, as they say, is history.
The band now boasts over 30 members and all are aged under 20.
It has been a busy few months since a service to dedicate uniforms was held in Clare Presbyterian Church in May.
Now, on Saturday, August 22, Moyrourkan is set to make history and the young ’True Blues’ cannot wait to step out in style.
Band Master Jack McClure – who along with Deputy Band Master Ben Wilson have been the driving force in Moyrourkan’s resurrection – told Armagh I : “We are branding it as our 50th anniversary Reformation parade.
“This will be the first time a band parade has been held in Tandragee in over a decade, it could even be 15 years.
“We are parading the town first at 7 o’clock from Tandragee District Hall and all Orangemen are invited to parade behind us to the War Memorial for our Act of Remembrance.
Moyrourkan True Blues on one of their many parades over recent months.
“From there, we will parade on to where the rest of the bands start on the Armagh Road. They all begin to meet there from 7.30pm and then the main parade starts at 8pm.
“We are expecting a good turnout on the night, with 35 bands hopefully. Once all the bands have paraded, we’ll parade again at the end, the full route, and then finish in the Square in Tandragee.”
Jack and his fellow bandmates have been blown away by the support they have received so far.
The dedication of uniforms was a highlight for the young Moyrourkan True Blues, while the Twelfth was, said Jack, “a brilliant day”.
Even last Saturday, the Apprentice Boys’ annual Relief of Derry celebrations saw the County Armagh boys parade to great acclaim.
“The cheers we got from going around the Maiden City was very encouraging,” said a proud Jack.
“The response has been unbelievable. We were featured on the Twelfth coverage on the BBC and UTV. It’s just unreal. The band’s name has exploded.
“After that we shared a GoFundMe page and in the span of two days we received £2,000 in donations online, which was unbelievable.”
This money will work for a “good cause”, contributing to both uniforms and instruments.
Since Armagh I first spoke to Jack in May ahead of the dedication of uniforms, there has been growing interest in Moyrourkan True Blues.
They have already swelled their numbers to an extent but have been limited at this stage in how many they can accommodate.
“We’ve taken on a few new learner fluters,” explained Jack. “Our drum corps, it’s full at the minute, but we’re always willing to expand the flute corps. I’ve seen a few new faces down at the hall since the Twelfth, which is brilliant.”
It has been this phenomenal public response which has spurred them on and they are now looking forward to their Reformation parade.
“Honestly, we weren’t expecting to hold a parade in our first year, but everybody’s just been really keen to get out and parade,” added Jack.
“We’ve been around that many parades we thought we may as well hold our own, because most bands will be willing to return the support to ourselves. To have a parade in Tandragee, it will definitely mean a lot to ourselves and the local community.
“And we hope, all being well, to make it an annual parade from now on.”
