We may not be the biggest we may not be the best but the name Pride of Ardoyne has become synonymous with all that the loyalist culture has stood for stretchin back to the siege of Derry in 1688 and the spirit of no surrender.

This much maligned band and their loyal supporters who emanate the length and breadth of the British isles and indeed as far away as Canada,the USA and Australia know better than most the meanin of the word loyalist.

Loyal to the crown loyal to our country this wee band numberin 66 members have shown the spirit of their forefathers in ensurin that a small part of North Belfast will always remain British and never fall into republican hands despite the fierce onslaught and ethnic cleansin that the Irish republican war machine in all its forms has inflicted on a small but patriotic community.

Both members and supporters of this loyal band have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure these British citizens keep their divine right to proudly fly their colours in the face of such a sustained attack whether it be bricks bottles stones and bombs or in the political arena where our enemies preach weasel words to all and sundry sayin the world would be a better place if there was no Pride of Ardoyne

Our answer is a simple one,all the mantras that describe the loyalist community as a whole can be used to sum up this small but courageous band,No Surrender,here we stand we can do no other,fortune favours the brave,we are the people,fuck talk we walk,British not Irish,the list goes on but each and every one can be used when describin the famous POA

Each and every year our intention is a simple one,to walk our traditional route from Ligoniel orange hall to join our brethern in West Belfast or Clifton street and home again peacefully and safely.republicans in wateva form they transpose themselves into whether it be the stickies in the 70s the provos in the 80s and the so called dissidents in the noughties,all are republicans and all seek to eradicate a British presence in North Belfast

We lost many supporters and members to ethnic cleansin in Torrens estate in North Belfast so facin the same conditions in our homeland of Ardoyne when many of our members and supporters were evicted and seen their houses burned to the ground we took action in the holy cross dispute but as usual the media turned a blind eye and only seen the republican perspective instead of highlightin the nightly arson attacks on our homes

The POA have long since given up on hopin for support from the mainstream unionist and wider community and so as time went on our views became more entranched and we are now more determined than ever that watever the outcome of the political talks at Stormont that there will always be a loyalist Ardoyne and there will always be a pride of Ardoyne flute band and i leave you in the words of our forefathers

HERE WE STAND WE CAN DO NO OTHER.NO SURRENDER.

PRIDE OF ARDOYNE.EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE DRUM.FUCK TALK WE WALK.WE ARE THE PEOPLE

This week saw the latest in a long line of smear tactics bein used by the PSNI against our band.

An unnamed officer has made a report that one of our members was abusin Republicans durin the recent RBP parade and now the district commandin officer has seen fit to threaten our RBP that if they wish to take our Band in future,the PSNI will recommend to the anti parades commission that we are a high risk to public safety

Every member of the band,lodge and marshalls are adamant no such incident took place and we are calling on the PSNI to provide video evidence as there is a lot of cctv in the area and if no evidence is forthcoming they should redress the situation and issue an apology

We have been in touch with our local representatives who will be advisin us on our next move

Every time we parade with our band we know we're in the full glare of those in the Republican community,PSNI and anti-parades commission all pursuin the same agenda of gettin us banned from the queens highway

Despite the provocation we get from these bodies we never react knowin our mere presence alone hurts them more than anything we could ever say or do

Ardoyne anger at loyal order parade and UVF band


Photo: PRIDE OF ARDOYNE: UVF-linked flute band
BY PEADAR WHELAN

THE hypocrisy of the loyal orders was once again exposed last Saturday, 29 August, when members of the Royal Black Preceptory paraded past Ardoyne behind the UVF-linked Pride of Ardoyne flute band.
In its mission statement the Royal Black Preceptory (RBP) portrays itself as a Christian organisation that exists to give its members the opportunity to “study holy scripture in order to understand the Christian faith and demonstrate its relevance for today’s society in order to demonstrate their personal faith in Jesus Christ, their commitment to regular Christian worship and all aspects of charitable living”.
However, the fact the RBP is willing to associate itself with the Pride of Ardoyne band, which commemorates UVF members Sam Rockett, William Hanna and Billy McClure, exposes the loyal order’s willingness to associate itself with loyalist paramilitarism. Indeed, the Pride of Ardoyne band boasts on its website “Fuck talk.... We walk” referring to the continued willingness of the Parades Commission to allow it to parade through Ardoyne.
Their website also displays video footage of a UVF commemoration for Sam Rockett at which masked and armed UVF men paraded and fired volleys of shots from AK 47 rifles.