Mavemacullen Accordion
Markethill Masonic Hall, Markethill, Northern Ireland, United KingdomAnnual Parade
Mavemacullen was formed on August 6, 1953 at Mavemacullen Orange Hall; meaning the band is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
As a lodge band, it is connected to Mavemacullen LOL 739.
The band has been on the road ever since. The first recorded outing for the band was to Gosford Castle in 1953.
From its formation to date the band has taken part in many band parades and community events, such as, educational events, church services, carol services, hosting and organizing parades, concerts and taking part in cultural events.
The band also lead its own lodge on the 12th of July and lead Markethill District RBP to Scarva; on Black Saturday members travel to County Antrim, to take part in the last Saturday celebrations, the latest of which took place in Ballyclare.
Mavemacullen is extremely involved in its local community.
During the pandemic in 2020, the band went to play for older people who were isolating and posting videos online for members of the community to enjoy in a difficult time. The band also organise an annual big breakfast to raise money for a chosen charity each year.
It is a great band for organizing and running, ambitious and highly successful events; in 2022 the band organised a village fete in Clare, outside Tandragee, to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with Bouncy castles, face painting, car boot sale, children’s fancy dress, dog show, cake competition, it’s a knockout, vintage rally, farmers market, BBQ, and music and entertainment.
This was the first village fete in Clare since 1942 and must have taken a massive amount of planning and hard work.
The band held another village fete this year to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and the band’s 70th Anniversary.
The band is also planning a Gala Ball as well as releasing a CD to mark their 70th anniversary.
In 2020 the band took part in the Open Accordion Championship in Carrickfergus and has taken part in the Open Accordion Championship 2023 in Templepatrick. Both years the band has come back with various prizes in the marching band and solo sections.
Mavemacullen is a band which loves a challenge and which also enjoys developing musically and learning more, this is displayed by members taking extra tuition on a Thursday night in preparation for exams!
In recent times, the band took part in the NI100 centenary parade in Belfast as well as taking a second trip up to Stormont to take part in an aerial photograph organised by the Ulster-Scots Agency, to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.
The band attended Tandragee District LOL no.4 joint centenary and jubilee celebratory parade in April 2022. Some Mavemacullen members also travelled to London to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The band also travelled to Hillsborough Castle to lay a wreath in her memory.
The band made two trips to Kilkeel last year, for a tattoo and fireworks display for the Queen’s Jubilee and the 11th night pageant.
Later this year, some members are making the trip to the Somme from the 12th to the 15th of October.
Mavemacullen enjoy a bit of craic together like any band, organising various outings, BBQs, Halloween parties, Christmas parties, musical gatherings and performances.
The adults have an annual Christmas night out, this year to the Belmont in Banbridge and the younger members attended Airtastic followed by a meal.
I hear one member who loves the craic is, Melvin ‘the swagger’ Richardson (named so because of the way he plays the bass drum on parade), husband of current band mistress, Sharon Richardson, he’s so popular that he doubled over as a fancy-dress costume at last year’s Halloween party.
Mavemacullen host their own parade in Markethill on the second Wednesday in August and band practice is on a Monday night in Mavemacullen Orange Hall. The band’s ‘theme tune’, is said to be When the Roll is Called up Yonder/Are you Washed in the Blood! Two great tunes.
Annual Parade
Annual Parade
Annual Parade
Annual Parade
Annual Parade