A unique event

Kieran and his squad went off to Nottingham so we amused ourselves happily around Ballynahinch for a couple of days. Had a rest day on Thursday but a couple of adventures on Friday.

Firstly enjoyed a visit visit to the Ulster Folk Museum in the company of an amusing guide called Victor. Very enjoyable and only believed about half of what he said.

Home for a quick bite to eat then to the Main Street of Ballynahinch for the annual Protestant Boys Parade. (Yes Sue, we found another festival)!

Between 30 and 40 bands from all over the countryside marched around the main streets of the town playing stirring music as loud as they possibly could.

Most of the bands were what Steph called Blood and Thunder - drums and flute (no idea how that equates - thunder I get, but not the blood). However there were a few accordions bands and a Scottish pipe band too.

They all put in a lot of effort but the bass drummers in particular went out of their way to be as loud as possible. And loud they were.

We were enjoying it immensely And it reminded us of our trip to the Vatican a long time ago when the pope was blessing all the bands and they were all marching around at the same time playing different tunes.

AND THEN ... we realised that they were coming back down the street so we had one coming towards us around a corner, one a bit up the road that had just gone past and one coming Back towards us. What a cacophony!!! It was wonderful.

There had been a lot of baton twirling and one of the final band leaders paused at the special commemorative archway and twirled his baton up and over the arch (and caught it) to much applause.

I doubt whether we’ll ever see anything like this again