Leading unionist bandsman from Derry briefing Belfast peers on Fleadh positivity
A leading Derry bandsman who facilitated the historic participation of unionist marching bands at the Fleadh in Derry has been briefing his Belfast peers ahead of this year’s edition.
Derek Moore, a flautist with the William King Memorial Flute Band from the Fountain, was chair of the Londonderry Bands Forum when the Fleadh Cheoil crossed the border for the first time in 2013.
Mr. Moore led a hugely positive engagement with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann that saw several bands from the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) tradition participate in the annual celebration of music and culture thirteen years ago.
Ahead of the Fleadh returning North in August a bands forum has now been established in Belfast and, Mr. Moore told the ‘Journal’, has been pro-actively working with Belfast City Council in the run up to the festival.
Behind the scenes Mr. Moore has been briefing his Belfast peers on the ground-breaking collaboration in Derry in 2013.
"I went up simply to talk about our experience. Prior to 2013 there would have been scepticism between bands as to what the outcome was and what the set up was.
"I went up to say that the people you are dealing with at the Comhaltas level are really honourable people and are only interested in the music and the culture.
"There will be politics in the background in the City Hall in Belfast with both sides. The politics is wee bit hard to get over but they just have to make their mind up themselves. I spoke about the positivity that we got out of it,” said Mr. Moore.
During the City of Culture year in 2013 the Caw Flute Band, Burntollet Sons of Ulster Flute Band, Pride of Orange and Blue Flute Band, Churchill Flute Band and William King Memorial Flute Band all played as part of the official fleadh programme.
Jonathan Burgess’ portrayal of Protestant band culture, ‘The Pride,’ received a standing ovation in Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin.
And Protestant bands travelled to Sligo in 2014 to take part in the Fleadh there.
Mr. Moore noted that 2026 has already seen some historic engagements in Belfast.
"You saw the Imperial Guards leading the St. Patrick's Day parade. They will be part of the Fleadh as well. It is about pointing out the positives.
"That bands are doing stuff like that. Not every band will be playing. In the main, everything is positive. We are dealing with some positive people who are forward thinking,” he said.
Mr. Moore was particularly impressed in 2013 in his dealings with Labhrás Ó Murchú, CCE Director-General, and his colleagues, for whom it is all about the music.
And he points out how many airs and tunes are part of a shared tradition.
"You are playing a lot of the same stuff. There is a lot of crossover in the tunes. It is only the words that are different,” he remarked.
Personally he will be heading to Belfast, where his counterparts are ‘all systems go’.
“They are looking to step beyond other people speaking for them and speak for themselves.
"That's the way I'm seeing it. The same as we had down here. Stop allowing politics to interfere with what they are trying to do 52 weeks of the year rather than two days of they year.”