Ballymoney to be turned crimson with 'biggest ever Easter Monday' Apprentice Boys parade, commemorating Siege of Derry anniversary
A tremendous turnout is to turn Ballymoney crimson next week, as a massive Apprentice Boys parade commemorates the start of the Siege of Derry.
The Co Antrim town hosts thousands of Apprentice Boys led by an impressive 72 bands, in what the organisers hope will be the biggest Easter Monday parade the organisation has ever seen.
It’s also the culmination of a significantly expanded programme of events, as a week-long series of cultural, community and family-focused bashes have been staged with the first ‘Easter BallyMonday Crimson Festival’.
Still to come over this weekend are a family fun day at Ballymoney Showgrounds. Running from noon to 4pm today, it features a special appearance from a siege cannon display team alongside amusements and carnival games, live performers, a food village, outreach and community stalls, inflatables, face painting – though the events depend on whether the weather holds, as Storm Dave is expected to strike Northern Ireland over the course of the day.
Tomorrow sees a special church service at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland in Ballymoney, including the dedication of a new bannerette and officers’ regalia accompanied by Coleraine Fife and Drum.
Then on the big day itself, the celebrations culminate with Ballymoney welcoming thousands of Apprentice Boys and 72 bands for the annual Easter Monday parade.
Feeders run from 10.30am to noon, with the main procession starting from Ballymoney Showgrounds at 12.30pm.
Moving along Charlotte Street to Main Street, it loops around the heart of the town along Meetinghouse Street, Trinity Drive and John Street onto High Street, finishing on Newbridge Road.
A spokesman for organisers Coleraine and District Amalgamated said they’re looking forward to “a truly historic Easter in Ballymoney”, capping off a week centred around a celebration of the Apprentice Boys’ creed and contribution to the life of Northern Ireland.
“This year’s programme represents a major step forward in how we celebrate and share our culture,” he said.
“By introducing the Crimson Festival, we created a full week of activity that welcomes the entire community and visitors from further afield. The response so far has been overwhelming.”
The governor of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, William Walker, commended the organisers for their “initiative, drive and dedication” in organising not just the huge parade, but a whole week of events that “offered a celebration for the entire community”.
He said: “All that effort has been rewarded by the way local businesses and other organisations have embraced the ‘BallyMonday’ idea, and joined in making the weekend in Ballymoney a special one.
“We are especially looking forward to Easter Monday when Ballymoney will be turned crimson with a tremendous turnout of our clubs, members and their accompanying bands.”
The events mark the 337th anniversary of the start of the Siege of Derry proper. Although the famous shutting of the city’s gates happened in December 1688, the arrival of deposed King James and his army on April 16, 1689 is held to be when the blockade truly began.
Marked every Easter Monday by the Apprentice Boys, it was the start of a gruelling 105 days of siege as the enemy tried to starve the populace out, until the city’s relief by King William’s forces.