Five members of Elland Silver Band recently visited Northern Ireland to take part in the famous Orange Day Parades in the town of Ballinamallard in County Fermanagh.

10,000 spectators

The players were the guests of Maguiresbridge Silver Band, and played with them in front of an estimated crowd of over 10,000 spectators.

Maguiresbridge Band member Ryan Kells has been playing with Elland Silver whilst studying at Huddersfield University, and several Maguiresbridge members recently came over to England to experience Whit Friday last year.

Amazing experience

Elland Silver solo horn player David Armitage, told 4BR: "The parade was an amazing experience and were one of over 70 bands taking part.

I’m sure some people in Britain associate Orange Day parades with the violence that gets reported, but what we experienced was a fantastic music festival, featuring brass bands, pipe bands, flute bands and even accordion bands on the march."

Wherever we went we were treated with overwhelming hospitality. Fermanagh is a beautiful part of the world, the people there are real characters — and so generous and friendlyElland Silver

Hospitality

David added: "Wherever we went we were treated with overwhelming hospitality. Fermanagh is a beautiful part of the world, the people there are real characters — and so generous and friendly.

We certainly hope to return, and are hopeful that we can arrange for the Maguiresbridge Silver Band to take part in one of our local march contests too."