Feet were on the street this Twelfth as the sound of pipes could be heard at Finvoy, as the Mullans ILOI No. 34 organised their annual Twelfth Parade with a difference. In line with Grand Lodge Guidance, Twelfth Parades were scaled back and socially distanced but keeping the traditional alive. The changing situation in terms of Government restrictions allowed some lodges to pull our all the stops and get a parade organised. Others chose to make use of the Virtual Twelfth resources to celebrate at home or as a lodge. The primary concern was and remains public safety and to this end routes were chosen to avoid built up areas and to bring the parade to the people allowing them to stay safe at home.

The decision was made to keep numbers to a minimum and not to use the full band instead having two token pipers to lead the parade. The day began in the hall with an act of devotion and a welcome by Lodge Officers. Imperial Grand Master James Anderson thanked the lodge for all its efforts and for the sacrifices they had all made. He noted that this should have been a very different occasion with a newly refurbished hall hosting the lodge in the morning but instead a scaled down day was planned.

Those present stayed in family units as parti of the policy the ILOI employed of encouraging people to stay in their usual ‘bubbles’ and not to mix with others they would not normally do so with. Once such Unit was the Campbell family who had three generations on parade and while it was not the day anyone had planned a year ago it was great to see young faces on parade.

 

The parade itself allowed residents to enjoy the music from their homes or stay in their cars along the road side for something like a drive in parade, which was first.