“This year the Ulster Special Constabulary association is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and last Friday 30 May celebrated with a grand dinner in the Royal Hotel Cookstown.

“Last Friday night the largest parade of the season so far took place in County Londonderry, the venue being Coleraine.

“The 2010 Monkstown Young Citizen Volunteers Flute Battle of the Bands came to an end recently, with its well attended final in Monkstown Social Club.

“The holiday town of Portrush echoed to the sound of bands last weekend, when the Portrush Sons of Ulster Flute held a concert in the Town Hall.,

“Over two hours of some of the finest music from the Provinces Band scene has just been released on DVD.

“Newry City hosted a large scale procession last Friday night, the hosts being the locally based Loyal Sons of Benagh Flute.

“One of the most ignored elements of the Provinces massive band scene is the sheer amount of money required to maintain each individual band.

“Many different images evoke memories of Northern Ireland’s recent troubled history; however, one of the most familiar and striking is that of the ‘parade’.

“Friday night will see the first ever band concert in the newly refurbished Portrush Town Hall, hosted by the Portrush Sons of Ulster Flute.