15 August Celebrations Across Mourne Ahead Of 24-Band AOH Parade In Keady

Keady will welcome bands from across Ireland this Sunday, 16 August, as the Ancient Order of Hibernians holds its annual parade celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Hosted by Corran AOH Division 148 and St Patrick’s Accordion Band Corran, the parade will begin at 3pm from Keady GAA grounds.

Twenty-four bands are listed to take part, one more than attended last year’s major AOH celebration in Newcastle, Co. Down. Around 800 participants are expected in Keady for what promises to be one of the largest AOH parades of recent years.

The parade will leave Keady GAA grounds before proceeding along Keady Road, Armagh Road and Kinelowen Street. It will then travel through Market Street and around the monument, continuing along Bridge Street before finishing at the Cow Fair at approximately 5pm.

A wide variety of accordion, flute and pipe bands will be represented, with bands travelling from across Ulster and further afield.

Bands Taking Part

• Sarsfield Accordion Band
• St Patrick’s Accordion Band Fallaghloon
• St Patrick’s Accordion Band Randalstown
• St Patrick’s Accordion Band Corran
• St Patrick’s Flute Band Loup
• St Colmcille’s Accordion Band
• Sons of Ireland Flute Band
• Cloney Flute Band
• Brantry Pipe Band
• Kinturk Accordion Band
• Pride of Erin Accordion Band
• St Joseph’s Pipe Band Longstone
• Ballymartin Flute Band
• Holy Cross Accordion Band Attical
• Banna Fliuit Naoimh Phádraig
• Glen Accordion Band
• Ballinderry Flute Band
• St Trea’s Accordion Band
• Carlingford Pipe Band
• St Naul’s Pipe Band
• St Joseph’s AOH Pipe Band Glasdrumman
• Clontibret Pipe Band
• Tom Clarke Republican Flute Band
• Banna Píob na nGael

The annual event was held in Newcastle for the first time last August, when 23 bands paraded through the seaside town. This year’s gathering brings the celebration to Keady, with Corran Accordion Band taking on hosting duties.

Saturday’s 15 August Celebrations

Five bands will hold local parades across Mourne on Saturday to mark the Feast of the Assumption.

St Joseph’s Pipe Band Longstone will begin at Longstone Hill at 9.30am before visiting Ballymartin, Kilkeel and Rostrevor. Its programme includes Mass and a musical selection outside St Joseph’s Church in Ballymartin.

St Joseph’s Flute Band Ballymartin starts at 9.45am, with appearances planned in Ballymartin, Kilkeel and Rostrevor before a final parade through Warrenpoint at 2pm.

Banna Fliuit Naoimh Phádraig will parade through Kilkeel from 11.30am and Warrenpoint from 12.45pm, returning to Kilkeel for a further parade at 6pm.

Holy Cross Accordion Band Attical will also visit Kilkeel and Warrenpoint, beginning its programme at 11.30am.

Saturday’s celebrations conclude with St Joseph’s AOH Pipe Band Glasdrumman parading along Glasdrumman Road in Annalong from 5.35pm.

Other Sunday 16 August Parades

Several of the AOH bands attending Keady will also hold local Feast of the Assumption parades on Sunday.

Sarsfield Accordion Band will parade in the Desertmartin and Magherafelt areas from 9.30am, with further local parades planned from 6.30pm.

St Trea’s Accordion Band will begin its programme in Ballyronan at 10am before travelling to the Toome area.

St Patrick’s Flute Band Loup will parade in the Loup, Ballyronan and Magherafelt from 10.30am, returning to Magherafelt for an evening parade at 7pm.

St Patrick’s Accordion Band Glen will parade through Maghera from 10.45am.

Pride of Erin Accordion Band Gortrighey and Rosnashane Accordion Band will parade together in Rasharkin from 10.30am. They will reunite for an evening parade through Kilrea at 7pm.

The bands will then join the main AOH parade in Keady, beginning at 3pm, making Sunday a full day of Feast of the Assumption celebrations across Counties Armagh, Antrim and Derry.