Song Ulster Irish or
Donegal Irish is exclusive to Ulster. Ulster Irish is very different, as is the old style of prose and songwriting. Whereas in other parts of Ireland songs tend to be structured, in Ulster songs are wider ranging in style. Counties
Donegal and
Antrim are well known for songs of speed, much like Donegal fiddle playing. It is unique in the
sean-nós traditional in both tempo and in wording and is often more
free in structure and ornamentation.
Notable Ulster singers and songwriters by historical area*: •
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh –
Gaoth Dobhair,
County Donegal •
Moya Brennan – Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal •
Sarah Makem –
Keady,
County Armagh •
Van Morrison -
Belfast,
County Antrim •
Willie Drennan -
Ballymena, County Antrim •
Historical area refers to the period of the traditional music the artist is known best for singing.
Marching bands parading on the
12th of July,
Omagh A significant element of Ulster's music culture is the
marching band tradition, particularly within the
Ulster Unionist community. There are approximately 650 bands in Ulster, ranging from "Blood and Thunder"
flute bands to melody
accordion,
silver, and
pipe bands. Notable bands include the Symington Memorial
Silver Band, Sons of Ulster Flute Band and the Ulster Protestant Boys Flute Band. Orange Lodges then pay the marching bands to lead them in
Orange walks. The biggest
parade in Ulster is the
Twelfth of July, ran by
Orange Order. There are a number of locations every year selected, usually in rotation within each district.
Belfast's city parade runs consistently each year, whereas areas such as districts such as like
Holywood District No. 14 will select a host town, such as Dundonald in 2025 through the town's local lodge, which in
Dundonald is the Dundonald Purple Vine. The County Grand Lodge in this insistence is the North Down Combine, which oversees the event and the lodge works with the
PSNI and the
Parades Commission to approve the routes. The
Donegal Twelfth of July parade, known as the
Rossnowlagh Orange Parade, is held in the Republic of Ireland. The Rossnowlagh parade is traditionally held on the Saturday before the Twelfth. It brings bands and Orange lodges from border counties, including the other two Ulster counties in Ireland,
Monaghan and
Cavan, but also Orange Lodges outside of Ulster, including
Leitrim.
Belfast International Tattoo The
Belfast International Tattoo is an annual
military tattoo held in the
Odyssey Arena,
Queen's Quay, Belfast. The event is typically held in September, and has a variety of talent from Northern Ireland and countries around the world. It showcases Ulster-Scots traditions as well as bands and performers from countries including
Zimbabwe,
Spain,
Canada and
Australia.
Ulster-Scots Folk Orchestra The
Ulster-Scots Folk Orchestra was formed in 2000 by Willie Drennan and John Trotter. Unlike a formal classical
orchestra, it operates as a loosely coordinated network of multi-instrumentalists. They have performed at various places and festivals including
Kentucky and at the Emory Symposium at
Emory University in
Atlanta.
Lambeg drum The
Lambeg is a massive, double-headed bass drum, typically 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep. It is unique to Ulster and is primarily associated with the
Orange Order and the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, though it is most famous for its use in
July parades. The shell is made of
oak, and the heads are made of
goat skin. It is one of the loudest instruments in the world. The drum's usually have unique artwork, depicting Ulster-Scots and
unionist culture, as well as
Christian scriptures. The Lambeg drum is featured in
Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill, when the singer purchased one from a workshop in
Sandy Row,
Belfast. She was on a stroll in the neighbourhood in the 1980's when she went in to make the request with the shop owner and drum-maker William Hewitt. In September 2021, as part of the Northern Ireland
Centenary celebrations, a landmark event titled 'The High Sheriff’s Centenary Echoes of the Lambeg' was held at
Stormont Estate. The gathering featured over 130 Lambeg drums, making it the largest recorded meeting of the instruments in history.
Fife The Fife tends to go hand-in-hand with the Lambeg as the "fife and drum" tradition is a direct descendant of 17th and 18th-century military music. The melodies played on the fife are often referred to as "drumming tunes." It is a staple of Ulster-Scots musical traditions.
Ulster fiddle Ulster fiddle playing is distinct from the rest of Ireland in that it has been greatly influenced from neighbouring
Scotland, in particular the
Hebrides. ==Sport==