Northern Irish flute band visits Guelph to mark major anniversary

The sound of flutes and drums cascaded over Guelph as a band from Northern Ireland made a stop to mark a major milestone.

Fifty members of the Blair Memorial Flute Band from Omagh, Northern Ireland visited Orange Hall on Waterloo Avenue on Monday night as part of a Canadian Tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

“A lot of our members in the band are working class,” David Swann, Band Master of the Blair Memorial Flute Band, explained. “Canada’s probably somewhere they’ve dreamed of going to and they haven’t been able to go.”

Band members woke up before the sun had risen to hop onto a plane. They touched down in Canada on Monday. After a brief stop for a photo opportunity in Omagh, Ont., southeast of Milton, they headed to Guelph.

“We do know some people who have left Northern Ireland and emigrated and set up roots here,” Swann said. “We have family members, extended family, here. And just the beauty of Canada. We’ve seen it on the television – we know about Niagara Falls, we know the people are very hospitable and they’re very kind and warm and you get a good welcome.”

Members of Guelph’s Orange Lodge lived up to that reputation, greeting the band with open arms.

The Orange Lodge organization was formed in memory of King William III, Prince of Orange. Orange Halls can be found in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of the United States and Canada.

“We want them to go back to Northern Ireland and to parade and to tell people in Northern Ireland and in Scotland about what a fantastic welcome they had here in Guelph and in Canada and get other people to come see what a wonderful country we live in,” Paul Allen, Worshipful Master of the Guelph Orange Lodge said.

After their stop in the Royal City, the musicians be heading to Stratford tomorrow and then they’re off to Niagara Falls for Thursday. The trip culminates in a performance in Toronto on Saturday, known as the Twelfth of July Orange Parade at the Ted Reeve Arena.

Despite their busy schedule, Swann said they have booked tickets to visit Canada’s Wonderland before they head back to Northern Ireland.