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Belfast Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Band parade on Open weekend is hailed a huge success as crowds pack Portrush
More than 80 bands marched through the town, with locals saying it was a huge success. The annual parade, organised by the local Sons of Ulster Flute Band, coincided with the penultimate day of the tournament. Large crowds gathered in the seaside town to enjoy the parade as it moved off at 8.30pm, finishing up at 10.45pm. Local TUV councillor Allister Kyle was among those at the parade and praised its success. "I was proud to be in Portrush on Saturday night, seeing the vast crowds, many of whom were in golf attire, clearly having attended The Open during the day and staying to enjoy the incredible musical spectacle in the evening,' he said. "Once again, I congratulate Portrush Sons of Ulster, particularly their committee, for organising one of the most successful nights Portrush has seen in years.' The parade was led by Ballykeel Loyal Sons of Ulster Flute Band. The bandmaster, Robert Thompson earlier told the Coleraine Chronicle his band had no hesitation in supporting Portrush Sons of Ulster's decision to go ahead with the rally. He said: 'It's an annual fixture and one of our favourite parades that is treated as a family day out. 'At the end of the day, it's Portrush's [Sons of Ulster] prerogative. Whatever they chose to do, we were backing them 100%. 'If they had chosen not to have held it, we would have backed them. But they chose to go ahead and asked us to have the privileged of leading it, and we jumped at the chance.' The route took in Metropole Green, Sandhill Drive, Eglinton Street, Kerr Street, Upper Main Street, Main Street, Causeway Street, Victoria Street and Dunluce Avenue. The Parades Commission application listed 83 bands taking part. Bands taking part came from all over Northern Ireland including Dungannon, Belfast, Londonderry and Coleraine. That makes it bigger than any single Twelfth parade. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of sports fans are in the area for The Open at the nearby Royal Portrush Golf Club, which concluded on Sunday, The Open: International visitors share views on Portrush The organising band was offered around £20,000 by organisers to postpone their parade — which they refused. Outside the Station Bar today, Jeff McCusker said the band was 'definitely right to not accept the money'. 'The parade is every year on this date and if the golf organisers wanted to they could have reached out long before they did to the band,' he said. Despite fears of traffic chaos those helping with the traffic flow in the town said while it was heavy at times they kept it moving around the town. Some tourists in the area for The Open decided to stick around after the golf ended to watch the marchers. Harn Huang who was visiting Portrush for The Open from South Africa with her mum and boyfriend said: 'We don't have anything like this. I'm here to see both the golf and the parade. It's very cool.' But not all were even aware a parade was taking place including couple Luke Kelly and Mackenzie Brown from Phoenix, Arizona. Mackenzie said: 'We're not aware of any band parade and can't stay unfortunately. "I didn't know what to expect in Portrush (for The Open). It was breathtaking – the course and the cliffs and the water.' Canadian tourist Jess Marks, who was at The Open with partner Tim Shaw from Germany, said they didn't know anything about the march but had heard there was 'an event that might cause a few problems at the train station with more people trying to leave'. Earlier this week, Mark Darbon, chief executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A), said there would be "marginal adjustments" of about 15 minutes to the golf tee-times to try to ensure both events can take place in a "seamless" way. "We recognise that when we bring The Open Championship to town, we are a guest in the community in which we operate," he said. "On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we are very focused on here, within the walls of the venue. "So, recognising the events that are taking place on Saturday, we have worked really collaboratively with the organisers and across multi-agency groups to ensure, primarily, that both events can run as seamlessly as possible.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
The Open tee times moved to avoid disruption with band parade in Portrush, R&A confirms
Third round tee times at The Open at Royal Portrush will be moved slightly to accommodate a planned band parade in the town on Saturday evening. R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon has confirmed the adjustment to the schedule, which is likely to be 'around 15 minutes'. The Portrush Sons of Ulster are holding a parade on Saturday evening and more than 60 bands are due to participate in the march, which is due to begin shortly after play finishes on Saturday, which could clash with tens of thousands of golfers travelling home. The final groups will attract large amounts of spectators as the leaders conclude the penultimate round of the championship, meaning an even busier town centre as fans depart the Dunluce Links. After requests to postpone the parade were rejected, Darbon has revealed a change in plan after a 'collaborative' effort with multiple parties. "We realise we are a guest in the communities we visit and on many cases there are concurrent events around the action in the venue," he said. "We've worked collaboratively with multiple agency groups to ensure both events can run as seamlessly as possible. "We're making a slight tweak to Saturday tee times - nothing major, 15 minutes or so earlier - but the weather can play a big role so it's hard to be specific about finishing times." Darbon also confirmed the R&A has made a payment to ensure minimal disruption: "We're contributing to costs to ensure the seamless running of both events." The R&A has concerns over the large crowds set to descend on the town from 8pm at the end of day three's play, with thousands already waiting for the band to begin just 15 minutes later. TUV politician Allister Kyle confirmed the band had agreed to switch the band's start time from 8pm to 8:30pm, though any further delay is impossible due to the mandatory 11pm curfew on parading.
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Major change to The Open schedule announced with tee times moved due to event clash at Portrush
THE OPEN will start earlier on Saturday due to a clash with an event in Portrush. The 153rd edition of the tournament is underway and will conclude on Sunday. 1 Tee times on Saturday have been brought forward Credit: Sportsfile Play began at 6:35am for the opening round and tee times will be brought forward on Saturday. That is because of a band parade that is scheduled to take place in Portrush. It is expected 70 bands and 2,000 people will descend on the town in an event organised by Portrush Sons of Ulster. It will take place in the evening, at which time the golf will be complete for the day. READ MORE ON THE OPEN That is because times will shift forward by around 15 minutes according to the chief executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A), Mark Darbon. Mr Darbon said, as organisers, they are "guests in the community" - albeit 275,000 in number. He said at a press conference: "We recognise that when we bring The Open Championship to town, we are a guest in the community in which we operate. "On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we are very focused on here, within the rules of the venue. Most read in Golf CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times TOP STORIES... "So, recognising the events that are taking place on Saturday, we have worked collaboratively with the organisers and across multi-agency groups to ensure, primarily, both events can run as seamlessly as possible. "We are making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish - it's not dramatic, maybe 15 minutes or so earlier. 'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture as they say 'how can you not love this guy?' "At the same time, this is an outdoor sport; the weather can play a big role. "It's very difficult to be precise on finishing times, but we are looking at some marginal adjustments."
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Major change to The Open schedule announced with tee times moved due to event clash at Portrush
THE OPEN will start earlier on Saturday due to a clash with an event in Portrush. The 153rd edition of the tournament is underway and will conclude on Sunday. 1 Tee times on Saturday have been brought forward Credit: Sportsfile Play began at 6:35am for the opening round and tee times will be brought forward on Saturday. That is because of a band parade that is scheduled to take place in Portrush. It is expected 70 bands and 2,000 people will descend on the town in an event organised by Portrush Sons of Ulster. It will take place in the evening, at which time the golf will be complete for the day. READ MORE ON THE OPEN BRYS IS RIGHT 'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture That is because times will shift forward by around 15 minutes according to the chief executive of the Royal & Ancient (R&A), Mark Darbon. Mr Darbon said, as organisers, they are "guests in the community" - albeit 275,000 in number. He said at a press conference: "We recognise that when we bring The Open Championship to town, we are a guest in the community in which we operate. "On many occasions, there are concurrent events that take place around the action that we are very focused on here, within the rules of the venue. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "So, recognising the events that are taking place on Saturday, we have worked collaboratively with the organisers and across multi-agency groups to ensure, primarily, both events can run as seamlessly as possible. "We are making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish - it's not dramatic, maybe 15 minutes or so earlier. 'People's champ' Bryson DeChambeau delights Open fans with classy gesture as they say 'how can you not love this guy?' "At the same time, this is an outdoor sport; the weather can play a big role. "It's very difficult to be precise on finishing times, but we are looking at some marginal adjustments."
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
British Open schedule on Saturday to be adjusted because of loyalist parade
Tee times in Saturday's third round of the British Open (The Open) will be brought forward in an effort to reduce the potential for disruption while an annual loyalist parade takes place the same day in Portrush. Some 77 bands, and an estimated 2,000 people from the Portrush Sons of Ulster organisation, are expected to march through the town in Northern Ireland that is hosting golf's oldest major championship. The parade is scheduled to start at 8.30 pm local time — around the same time that thousands of spectators might be leaving the property at Royal Portrush following the third round of the Open Championship. Amid the potential for logistical issues, the R&A which organises the British Open, is adjusting its schedule for Saturday. 'We've worked really collaboratively with the organisers and across multiple agency groups to ensure primarily that both events can run as seamlessly as possible,' R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said on Wednesday. 'We're making a slight tweak to tee times to try and finish — it's not dramatic. It'll be 15 minutes or so earlier,' he added. More than 275,000 spectators are expected to attend the Open across this week. ALSO READ | The Open 2025: Dates, course history, players, prize money & more The Belfast Telegraph reported last week the Portrush Sons of Ulster group was offered 20,000 pounds (USD 27,000) by the R&A to postpone the parade, and that the offer was rejected. When that was put to Darbon, he said the R&A was making contributions to support 'the seamless operation of both events.' 'We try and be good citizens in the communities in which we operate when we come to town,' he said. Darbon said he had no extra security concerns around Saturday evening, adding the safety of spectators was 'always a prime consideration.' Price hikes It's a big week for Portrush and its local businesses — and it appears some have been attempting to take full advantage. The prices of meals at some of the town's popular restaurants shot up, leading to criticism and complaints from visitors, The Guardian newspaper reported. According to the paper, the price of a burger at Ramore Wine Bar rose from 7.95 pounds (USD 10.65) to 17.95 pounds (USD 24). The Ramore Restaurant Group, which owns that bar and others, including the well-known Harbour Bar, attributed the price hikes to extra staff being needed for a busy Open week, but said menus have been 'revised and adjusted' in the wake of the complaints.
