Dunloy Accordion Band 60th

But that’s exactly what happened when Dunloy Accordion Band celebrated their 60th anniversary in Ballymoney on the last Saturday in July.

From early afternoon the town was filled with music of the highest calibre as the band’s Festival Day ran at Castlecroft. A capacity audience was treated to performances from top class groups from across the borough and the province.

As the crowds began to assemble in the town in anticipation of the main parade, the music continued with more performances from some of the country’s best known bands at High Street and again at Castlecroft. By the time the Main Parade began at 7.30, the town was filled to the brim with supporters and band enthusiasts keen to see the bands.

A real carnival atmosphere prevailed and the family-friendly parade certainly appealed to all musical tastes with bands in attendance from all over Northern Ireland and even Scotland.

The host band finished off the evening in traditional style....being the last band on parade and looking resplendent in their new uniforms which were being worn for the first time.

A spokesman for the band expressed their sheer delight at the success of the parade and the level of support received from the members of the public.

“We simply can’t thank the people of Ballymoney and the province in general enough for the support we’ve received all day and for tonight’s parade. It’s surpassed all of our expectations and we are deeply humbled to think that people have given of their time to support us in this way.”

The band would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making the day and the parade such a success are are delighted to report that the grand total of £11,000 was raised for band funds.