Orange Order and band members called on to join in tonight’s applause for key workers

Ever since Thursday March 26, householders across the UK at large have staged a minute-long period of applause – known as Clap for Our Carers – as a way of paying tribute to doctors, nurses, and other critical staff battling the Covid-19 crisis.

Plenty of people have also added clanging pots and pans in a bid to increase the noise, and last week Harland and Wolff sounded a giagantic shipyard horn for the first time in decades during the 8pm applause.

Now the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has issued a call for supporters to add their traditional instruments to the cacophonous clapping chorus tomorrow (Thursday April 16).

It posted a message on its Facebook account reading: “Last Thursday evening, a number of Lambeg drummers across the country showed their support for the NHS and the many essential workers at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19.

“This week, let’s see how many drums or band members playing their instrument we can encourage to drum up support – at home or outside their local Orange Hall.”

However, the post also added: “Remember to abide by all the current regulations governing essential travel and social distancing!”

Prominent band scene enthusiast Quincey Dougan, who lives outside Markethill in Co Armagh, told the News Letter: “Last Thursday night the Lambeg drums were echoing right across the countryside. It was like the Twelfth.”

He pointed to an example which he had posted online of the Black family (Adam, Mark and Thomas) in Markethill, beating their drums outside their house last Thursday.

Mr Dougan (who is doing regular history presentations on his Bygone Days Facebook page during the crisis) added that he hopes it may serve to keep alive “a sense of community – something which becomes difficult when you’re isolating”.

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