Killen Village Mini 12TH 

Killen Village south west of Castlederg and a short distance from the Donegal Border was the venue for the areas Mini 12TH last Friday night with the local Orange Lodge L.O.L No 1272 hosting the event .The village attracted a large amount of spectators and perhaps one of the village gathering of Bands seen for many years as 20 from the various styles of Marching Bands took Part in what was a night that just missed the rain.

The event started on the Scraghy road side of the village just after 8.30pm then made its way to Main Street were spectators had gathered to see the procession make its way through the village. Sister Susan Accordion from Donegal led the event followed by dozens of Orangemen lined amongst them members of the junior Orange who seemed delighted to be joining their older brothers and fathers the Parade progressed along the village to learmore Road on the Castlederg side and began to turn at the old creamery were Band took A short interval to let the Parade make an about turn.

On the night Pipe Bands dominated predominately from the local District of Killen with the distinctive Busby of Lislaird one of the first Pipe Bands to make it way from the starting point the Band from the opposite side of Castlederg gave an excellent display of pipe and drums then Garvetagh Pipe also with a strong performance.One of the recently Re established Pipe Bands Plum bridges Brian Buru also took the chance to get some miles under their Kilts as they continue to progress with the new young Drum Core taking on the responsibility with out tutors to Parade for the first time as a Drum core with all delighted to see the first big event completed. Tully whisker Pipe Band also took part playing a great variety of music with two Bands from the Drumquin area Kirlish & Drumquinn Pipe was also part of the 20 and delighting the crowds.

Aghayaron Accordion who are also part of the Castlederg District took the chance to visit its neighbours across in Killen the Band looked and sounded on top form with the Hymn music dear Pants being played going back into Main Street another Accordion from West Ulster Bands Forum on Parade Barron from Donemana. Flutes on the night who took part were Castlederg Young Loyalist and Pride of Derg the two Bands part of the different Genre of music to Parade along side the Accordions making for a great event. With all the nights Business completed people started to look forward to the 12th and hoped the weather would finally take a more positive direction for the Big Day in near by Castlederg “If it would take up on the 11th night keep dry for the 12th and it can do what ever it like on the 13th” one local commented with all around in agreement what can go wrong…