Band, Republican, 1980

The Billy Reid republican band, from New Lodge, North Belfast.
BANDS
Bands in Northern Ireland are traditional parts of both the loyalist and republican parade traditions, but are considerably more numerous and active within the loyalist tradition. In the last decade, as the peace process has progressed, republican bands have become less active. Loyalist bands, however, continue to be a highly important part of loyalist and Orange culture as well as being associated with loyalist paramilitaries. The bands are very closely associated with the Orange Order and play a key role in Orange parades as well as holding their own parades. The parade routes taken by loyalist bands, like Orange parades, are the subject of great controversy in Northern Ireland.
Loyalists view the bands as an expression of their culture and heritage while Catholics view them as supremacist. Catholics say this is evidenced by the anti-Catholic tunes some of the bands play. Such bands are known as ‘Kick the Pope' bands and Catholics particularly disdain their practice of playing sectarian tunes ‘on the spot' along contentious routes. Like other parades, bands are subject to the rulings of the Parades Commission and have been restricted or diverted away from contentious routes.

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