ONE of the most discussed aspects of this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was the involvement of musical bands from the loyalist tradition in the official programme of events.

One-time prominent DUP figure and now Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British Tradition, Lee Reynolds, discussed the bands’ involvement on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback earlier this week.

He noted that: “The lesson to be learned is… the inclusion of those of an Ulster Scots and Ulster British identity was done on the basis of a number of key principles. It wasn’t assimilative… It wasn’t seeking to dominate and it wasn’t seeking to censor... and that’s why it worked.”

He then posed the question as to why other cultural events organised within the north have not managed to achieve the same feat.

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It’s a good question, albeit primarily for reasons which are likely unintended.

Whilst the involvement of a number of loyalist bands was widely praised and perceived universally in a positive manner, a very different narrative was allowed to develop unchallenged within the media surrounding the decision by a republican band, Jim O’Neill & Robert Allsopp Memorial Flute Band, to hold a number of unofficial performances in the........

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