Tag: St Columb’s Cathedral

The 332nd Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Derry

The 332nd Commemoration of the Relief of Derry took place on the 14th August 2021. While more than the 30 who took part in August 2020 due to Covid regulations, the Association continued to be cautious and reduced the main Parade in Londonderry to the General Committee and eight Parent Clubs. The colour and spectacle of thousands of Apprentice Boys with banners and bands on the main Parade wasn’t to be.

There is a gallery of images for the 2021 Commemoration of the Relief of Derry, from our Galleries Page. Unable to host the Service of Thanksgiving for the Relief of Derry on the day of the Apprentice Boys Commemorations, a Service was held on the evening of the 12th August led by the Dean of St Columb’s Cathedral.

As is tradition the heralding the main Commemorative events, the firing of a cannon one and three times for the Brave 13, took place at midnight in the 13th August.

This was followed by members of the Murray Club symbolically touching the four gates of the City Walls, closed to the armies of King James.

The morning’s Commemorations started as they would any other year, with General Committee and the eight Parent Clubs walking the Walls.

Having held an Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph the parade returned to the Memorial Hall, from where the main Parade undertook the traditional route of the full Association.

Returning back to the Memorial Hall later in the afternoon. The flags that had been erected earlier that morning on Walker’s Plinth were taken down, and the day ended with the close of General Committee which had been opened before the day commenced.

Meanwhile around the country, Murray Clubs participated in local parades in local towns, keeping alive the memory of the Brave 13.

Bryansford & District Murray started the day by sharing a message on social media:

In the evening Bryansford joined other Clubs of Apprentice Boys in Rathfriland:

 

Ballywillan Murray joined others in Coleraine for a Commemoration Parade:

In Aghadowey, the Murray Club started the day with a short Service of Remembrance at the local Cenotaph:

Aghadowey Murray then joined other Clubs from the Coleraine area, in Coleraine, for the afternoon:

In Newtownstewart the local Murray Club started the day with an Act of Remembrance at the local Memorial, followed by a Parade and then a Family Fun Day:

Joining Newtownstewart Murray were Clubs from Plumbridge, Sion Mills, Raphoe, Castlederg, Ardstraw, and Cappagh. Bands accompanying were Newtownstewart’s Red Hand Defenders, Eden Flute Band, Castlederg Young Loyalists Old boys, and Donemana Sons of William.

Finally, Upperlands Murray Club held an Act of Remembrance at the local Memorial, before parading though Upperlands and on to Maghera to join other Clubs to Commemorate the 332nd Relief of Derry:

 

 

The Murray Club has Clubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and Australia. This website explains the importance of Col. Adam Murray and why our Club is named after this particular hero of the Siege. If you would like to know more about the Club please use our contact page.

The 332nd Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates.

This year the Murray Club has the honour of being to the fore in assuring the traditions of the Association for the 322nd Annual Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates against the army of King James in 1688.

Each year one of the eight Parent Clubs that are the foundation of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry have the honour of undertaking the lead role in the traditions of the Association. With the Covid-19 regulations and guidelines in place, the scale of the Commemorations was much reduced.

As is tradition in heralding the day’s events, the firing of a cannon one and three times for the Brave 13, took place at midnight.

This was followed by members of the Murray Club symbolically touching the four gates closed to the armies of King James.

A two storey high Lundy was not burned on Bishop Street following the Service of Thanksgiving at St Columb’s Cathedral.  A very much ‘reduced’ Lundy was burned at the start of the day, enabling the tradition to be secured that included the presentation of Lundy’s Soles and the lighting taper to the Murray Club President. The decision on the ultimate recipients of these items will be made when the Parent Club is again able to meet, physically, as a Club.

Starting at the Memorial Hall, thirteen Apprentice Boys – one from each Parent Club, four Officers of General Committee and a Standard Bearer carrying the Crimson – along with a drummer and fluter paraded to the Siege Heroes Mound within the grounds of St Columb’s Cathedral. At the Siege Heroes Mound a wreath was laid by the President of the Murray Parent Club in memory of the Defenders of Derry, and a short service was conducted by Rev. Nigel Cairns of St. Augustine’s Church.

Following which the Apprentice Boys paraded back to the Memorial Hall, the flags that had been erected earlier that morning on Walker’s Plinth were taken down, and the day ended with the close of General Committee which had been opened before the day commenced.

The President of the Murray Club has taken on the role of General Treasurer of the Associated Clubs in recent months, due to the passing of Bro. Alwyn Ferguson earlier this year – the black ribbon was placed on the Crimson in his memory. For that reason, there was also a representative from the Murray Parent Club as one of the eight Parent Club representatives, Bro. David Austin.

The Murray Club would like to thank the following for their advice and support in fulfilling the honour of undertaking the traditions for the 332nd Annual Shutting of the Gate Commemoration: General Secretary of the Associated Clubs, William Moore, for his limitless knowledge of our Association’s traditions; The Governor of the Association, Graham Stenhouse, and the Chairman of the Trustees of the Memorial Hall, Ivan Taylor, for joining us in assuring 13 touched the gates. Thanks too to Donemana Murray for the four members who live in Londonderry, and joined us to touch the Gates. Thanks to Norman Rossborough and Christopher Sherrard for manning the Cannon. Thanks to the Walker Family for all aspects of building and the burning of Lundy, and raising the flags on the plinth. Thanks to Rev. Nigel Cairns, St. Augustine’s Church, for attending the Siege Heroes Mound and leading the short Service. Thanks to Gordon Porter, drum, and Tim Cairns, flute, who accompanied the 13 Apprentice Boys on this unique Commemoration of the Shutting of the Gates. Final thanks to Trevor Boyd and the ABOD Marshals for being there at all times.

A gallery of images for 5 December 2020, the 332 Annual Shutting of the Gates, is available by clicking this link.

NB. Some of the images are not perfect. There was a struggle with the rain and gusts of wind that the photographer didn’t always win.