Belfast commemorations

Last weekend in Belfast two commemoration events were held. One remembered republican activists from the Lagan Valley area who died in the course of the last 30 years of struggle, while a band parade organised by the Éire Nua flute band, was held to mark the 11th anniversary of the RUC killing of IRA Volunteer Pearse Jordan.

On Sunday, up to 100 republicans gathered at Milltown Cemetery from where they marched, led by a colour party, to the Republican Plot.

At the plot, Sinn Féin Councillor Michael Ferguson, who represents the area on Lisburn Council, addressed the crowd and recounted how in 1991 he sat with the family of Volunteer Frankie Ryan, who was killed while on active service in England.

At the same time as the Lagan Valley commemoration was taking place, in Milltown a band parade organised in memory of Volunteer Pearse Jordan was assembling in Turf Lodge.

Eight bands from throughout the Six Counties took part in the parade, which made its way from Turf Lodge via the Whiterock Road and Falls Road — where it stopped at the Pearse Jordan Memorial — to the Felons Club and Milltown Cemetery.