Social Essays
Confiscated
The various Lodges like to march to a tune; it keeps them in pace and adds a certain flavour to the marches. The lodges hire Loyalist marching bands and they have their own band parades, when they are marked for musicianship, the repartee of tunes, their uniforms and general turn out.
The bands have their own followers and here is one of the main problems facing the parades. Because the parades are a celebration and this being Ireland, drink is very prevalent, particularly amongst the younger element of the followers. Known as the 'blue bag brigade' because of the colour of the bags the drink is supplied in, they are often only one sip away from starting trouble and with their nerves steeled by the drink it seems to the impartial viewer that they are always ready with a sectarian chant or song
Passing by Nationalist areas is always a tense time and these flash points (or interfaces) are often the scene of violent clashes as the old enmities bubble to the surface.
In recent years the police have begun to enforce a no alcohol tolerance, and as seen here on the 12th, the drink is confiscated and poured out.
The bands have their own followers and here is one of the main problems facing the parades. Because the parades are a celebration and this being Ireland, drink is very prevalent, particularly amongst the younger element of the followers. Known as the 'blue bag brigade' because of the colour of the bags the drink is supplied in, they are often only one sip away from starting trouble and with their nerves steeled by the drink it seems to the impartial viewer that they are always ready with a sectarian chant or song
Passing by Nationalist areas is always a tense time and these flash points (or interfaces) are often the scene of violent clashes as the old enmities bubble to the surface.
In recent years the police have begun to enforce a no alcohol tolerance, and as seen here on the 12th, the drink is confiscated and poured out.