Welcome to the website of Ballyrea L.O.L. 309
Ballyrea L.O.L. 309 was founded in 1895 and is a member of Killylea District in Co. Armagh. Their Orange Hall is 3 miles to the west of Armagh City. The Lodge currently has around sixty menbers, making it the largest Lodge in the District.
Ballyrea Flute Band is synonymous with the Lodge and is well known and respected across the province, hosting one of the largest band parades in Co.Armagh each 1st July.
LATEST NEWS
Photos from the 12th July and from Scarva added to the picture gallery plus more band videos added to the Band Scene Movie page.
12th July Celebrations
Ballyrea LOL 309 celebrated the Twelfth in customary fashion with an enjoyable day at the County Parade in Tandragee. An early start at Ballyrea Orange Hall saw the band and Lodge members parade the short distance along the Baltarren Road to meet the buses from Killylea District. Arriving in Tandragee shortly after 9.30am, Killylea District soon formed up and followed Richhill District from the assembly field into the town centre where thousands of spectators had gathered to watch the colourful spectacle. There was a light shower as the lodge arrived in Tandragee but the weather inproved throughout the day and the afternoon parade home was in glorious sunshine. Soon everyone arrived at the main field on the Old Scarva Road. Lodge members went for their customary tea and sandwiches at Lislooney's tent but for the band it was a quick dash back to the start of the parade route as they had accepted an invitation to lead Armagh lodge, Kildarton, to the field. An early departure in the afternoon meant everyone was on parade again at 2.30pm and the homeward parade was watched by even larger crowds who packed the main street. Safely back hope with a police escort and diversion to avoid Armagh's Ring Road, the band and lodge completed their final 'walk' of the day from the Navan up to the hall at Ballyrea. Following the playing of the National Anthem, lodge and band member retired to the hall for their tea which the ladies of the lodge had prepared much to their credit.That evening, dancing and entertainment rounded off another successful Twelfth for Ballyrea.
12th July 2008 Preparations
Preparations are well underway for the Twelfth Celebrations being held this year in Tandragee. Members will be meeting at 7.45am and departing for the buses at the end of the Baltarren Road at 8.30am. As usual there will be a dance in the Hall that evening and members and guests will all be welcome.
Ballyrea LOL 309 12th July 2007
Ballyrea Boyne Defenders 12th July 2007 
Lodge, Band, Friends & Family 12th July 2007
2008 Band Parade
A report on the Annual Band parade on 1st July has been added in the Band Scene section.
Christmas Dinner
Photographs from the Lodge Christmas Dinner have been added on the Pictures page.
Email from Australia
The Lodge was delighted to reveive an email from the grandson of one of the founder members of Ballyrea LOL 309, William John Leeman, who went on to serve as W.M. between 1904 - 1922.
Bernard Leeman, currently living in Australia sent a number of photographs of his Grandfather (see below) and his wife Mary (nee McMaster). His father, William James Townsley Leeman
(1895-1949) was a soldier in both World Wars, a hunter, planter and labour agent in Songea in Tanzania. Bernard is an academic and spent 16 years based in Tanzania as a military intelligence officer.
It is a pleasure to receive such photographs and they will be put on display in our Hall in the near future.
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W.M. visits Westminister
The W.M. of Ballyrea LOL 309, Sam Wilson was honoured to receive an invitation to the Palace of Westminister to attend a Dinner to celebrate the birth of King William III.
Pictured with Sam are Bro. Jeffrey Donaldson MP and Orange Order Grand Master, Robert Saulters.
W.M. visits The Somme
Pictured are W.M. Sam Wilson with his father, Bro Bob Wilson of LOL 94 during a recent visit to France when they paid their respects to members of the Orange Institution who gave their lives during the Great War and are remembered at the war memorial at the Somme.
A photograph from the recent Orange Ball held in the hall.
The 2007 marching season has commenced and the Band have already attanded a number of parades including Killylea, Newry and Lurgan.
Ballyrea Community Group has also been active since the new year and a number of events were arranged including a Walking Tour of Armagh.
1st JULY BAND PARADE
This year's parade was held on Monday 2nd July and unfortunately the weather was not very favourable with light rain at the start of the parade turning to a downpour midway through it. Nevertheless, the night was successful with 46 bands attending including six who had not been the previous year, Armaghbreague Pipe, Portadown Defs, RHD Downpatrick, Markethill Prod. Boys, POH Rathfriland and the newly formed Upper Bann Fusiliers.
The hightlight as usual was the annual burning of Lundy at the end of the evening after Ballyrea had paraded the village.
For a full list of all bands who attended see the full report in the Band Scene section.
12th JULY CELEBRATIONS
This year's 12th July parade was held in Loughgall and the poor Summer weather was maintained as heavy rain started while the band and Lodge were in the assembly field waiting for the main parade to start. Showers continued throughout the morning but the afternoon turned out much better with the sun shining on the homeward journey.
Prior to departing for Loughgall the Lodge members all received new ties and gloves and photographs of the Lodge and Band were taken outside the hall.
In Loughgall many favourable comments were received on how well the Lodege was turned out.
Back at the hall the ladies had, as usual, prepared a delicious meal for everyone and that evening, musical entertainment had been laid on for all to enjoy rounding off yet another glorious twelfth.