On parades – Sven Ellerbrock / Photography

Few images are as closely associated with Northern Ireland’s troubled past and recent politics as the marching bands that take part in its many parades. British Loyalist and Irish Republican marching bands, representing opposing political and communal traditions, are often portrayed in connection with violence, sectarianism and paramilitarism. Yet for those who take part, the bands represent much more than this. They are places where identity and heritage are expressed and celebrated, where communities come together and where people find friendship, entertainment and a sense of belonging. From the streets of North Belfast to rural towns and villages, bands play an important role in community life. Over the course of three years, two marching bands, one from each community, were followed as they travelled to parades across Northern Ireland.

Young members of the Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band marching in uniform with flutes and a bass drum on a street during a parade — Regular guests at the Republican Network for Unitys main parade, the young members of the Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band have to show great discipline throughout the more than two hour march.

Members of the Mullabrack Accordion Band in uniform parading with accordion and cymbals in a street setting — Unionist/Loyalist bands such as Mullabrack Accordion Band are highly regarded, even by its nationalist opponents, for their musical skills, versatile use of instruments and their role inside the community bringing together all generations.

Identity and belonging

Conflicts around cultural practices such as parading reveal important dimensions of the wider conflict in Northern Ireland. They show how questions of identity, history and belonging continue to shape everyday life. At the same time, the experience of taking part in a band can be remarkably similar on both sides of the political and communal divide.

Young woman with braided hair and hoop earrings sitting indoors with framed baby portraits on the wall behind her — Shauneen at her family home in North Belfast. She is waiting for other family and band members before heading off to the local Na Fianna Éireann parade, commemorating the IRA’s former youth wing.

Man in suit sitting alone at a long table in a hall with drums mounted on shelves and a framed portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the wall — The halls of Mullabrack Hearts of Steel Temperance in South Armagh. The local Orange Lodge, a branch of the Orange Order, is home to many of the band members as well as their families.

Group of Orangemen from Armagh district wearing dark suits, sashes, and bowler hats, one holding a banner pole — Orangemen from the district of Armagh, where Mullabrack is located. Parading Orangemen usually wear dark suits. In addition to sashes, some Orangemen wear Bowler hats and walk with umbrellas, although it is not mandatory to do so.

Group of men and a boy in formal attire standing near a large banner depicting a man in a suit with text including 'HEARTS OF STEEL' and 'MULLABRACK' — Son, grandson, and grand-grandson of local Orange man Charles Hutton Spence, who was killed by the IRA in 1982. Mullabrack Orange men carry a huge banner bearing his portrait to remember him wherever the Lodge and the band go.

Members of Mullabrack Accordion Band in uniform trading drumsticks and playing drums on a road while waiting for The Twelfth parade — Members of Mullabrack Accordion Band trading instruments for fun while waiting in line to join the main Twelfth of July parade. Almost 5,000 people and 80 other unionist/loyalist bands took part in the march during the celebrations.

Two men in a small room with chairs, one bending over a drum and the other standing wearing a drum harness — Sean and Joseph gearing up inside the office where they store their instruments.

Young person holding a floral wreath walking ahead of a group of people on a residential street in a parade — Leading the parade through strongly Irish Republican Ardoyne , home of the Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band. On this day around 200 people remember the fallen members of the IRAs youth wing Na Fianna Éireann.

Marching band members in uniform with hats and capes playing accordions and drums on a wet road in a rural area with houses and hills in the background — The Protestant Mullabrack Accordion Band on parade on through the heavy rain of County Donegal. The event traditionally taking place on the 11th of July each year is attended by local spectators as well as unionists and loyalists from NI.

Following two bands

On parades developed from an attempt to look beyond the familiar images of confrontation and understand the communities behind the parades. The photographs were taken on buses and streets, at commemorative events and graveyards, during performances and in the more private spaces of everyday life. Rather than offering an alternative narrative about Northern Ireland’s parades, the project focuses on the people who take part and on the moments that connect them: joy, camaraderie, ritual and a shared sense of belonging.

Group of young Mullabrack Accordion Band members in uniform standing on a beach with tall grass and ocean in the background — Nathan posing with other young members of the Mullabrack Accordion Band to take a selfie at the beach.

Group of young men and women at a cemetery with one man in front wearing a shirt with a raised fist and the text 'Tiocfaidh ár lá' — Members of the band at RNUs annual easter event in Dundalk. Man in the front wearing a shirt saying „Tiocfaidh ár lá“, irish for „Our day will come“.

Young man in a Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band jacket carrying the Irish national flag during a parade with other band members behind him — On his first parade as a member of the Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band, Marty is carrying the Irish national flag. It’s the dissident republicans’ annual Easter parade. The group strongly opposes the current peace process.

Marching group including Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band members playing flutes and walking on a bridge with flags and a banner in the background — Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band marching with members of RNU Belfast, a dissident grouping opposing mainstream republicanism. RNU has been reported to have links to an armed group that remains active.

Different trajectories

The two bands documented in the project have since taken different paths. The Henry Joy McCracken Republican Flute Band from North Belfast has disbanded, while the Mullabrack Accordion Band continues to perform and remains active.