Coronavirus: Lambeg drummers sound the right note for carers

A family of Lambeg drummers made Thursday night’s clap for carers just that little bit louder in one Northern Ireland village.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Apr 2020, 21:32 BST
Thomas Black, four, from Market Hill in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, bangs a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemicThomas Black, four, from Market Hill in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, bangs a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic
Thomas Black, four, from Market Hill in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, bangs a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic

Thomas and Adam Black, who are four and 10, joined their father Mark at the front of their house in Markethill, Co Armagh, to bang their drums for frontline workers.

The Orange Order had called on band members who traditionally take part in their summer parades to divert their musical skills to the 8pm tribute to the NHS.

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Drummers across the Province took up the challenge and played their Lambegs with gusto.

Adam Black, 10, from Markethill plays a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemicAdam Black, 10, from Markethill plays a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic
Adam Black, 10, from Markethill plays a Lambeg drum to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic

Adam and Thomas decorated their drums for the occasion with hand-made rainbow paintings with messages of thanks to the NHS.

Their mother Laura Black said the family was keen to show its support for all those working hard during the coronavirus emergency.

“It’s to show support for all the frontline workers,” she said.

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“It’s for the people who are in the community who are working with elderly in their homes looking after them, for the lorry drivers, shopkeepers, people in the hospitals – anybody who is doing a frontline job at the moment.”

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th April 2020 - Staff outside Belfast City Hospital's tower block, which is Northern Ireland's first Nightingale Hospital, hold a short event at 8.00pm to recognise and acknowledge the public support during a Clap for Blue Light Services. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th April 2020 - Staff outside Belfast City Hospital's tower block, which is Northern Ireland's first Nightingale Hospital, hold a short event at 8.00pm to recognise and acknowledge the public support during a Clap for Blue Light Services. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th April 2020 - Staff outside Belfast City Hospital's tower block, which is Northern Ireland's first Nightingale Hospital, hold a short event at 8.00pm to recognise and acknowledge the public support during a Clap for Blue Light Services. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Elsewhere, in Londonderry the factory horn from the old Ebrington factory was sounded across the city in honour of the NHS and all frontline staff.

Last week, the siren at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast was sounded for the first time in two decades as part of the weekly clap for carers event.

Related topics:CoronavirusNorthern IrelandMarkethill