Finnebrogue Beating Retreat

Finnebrogue House

On Friday evening, the 23rd June, 2017, two hundred friends and supporters of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland came to Finnebrogue, near Downpatrick, County Down, for a fundraising Beating Retreat.

I was abroad at the time so, alas, I was unable to be there.

Noel Lamb, of Finnebrogue House, is Chairman of the Trustees of Hope For Youth Northern Ireland.

Beating Retreat, or Beating to Quarters, has its origins in the early years of organised warfare, when the beating of drums and the parading of post guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day.

The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Royal Irish Regiment played a selection of music, both military and classical pieces.

There was a wide range of guests at the event, including the Lord-Lieutenants for County Down and Belfast; the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and his predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE; the Earl of Erne; the Chairman of the CBI, the Principal-elect of the Belfast Royal Academy, members of the police and the local community.

The programme for the evening included the band playing Scipio by Handel, the Soldiers Chorus from Faust, the Army of the Nile and various cavalry marches.

The Pipes and Drums played the Rowan Tree, the Green Hills of Tyrol, the Gael and Highland Cathedral.

The weather was ominous and threatened rain, but the sun came out just before the band played “Sunset” and the National Anthem.

It cast wonderful long evening shadows on the front lawn and glinted off the helmets.

Mr Noel Lamb pictured with the Earl of Erne (a Trustee of Hope For Youth NI), the Commanding Officer and the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr David Lindsay, Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mrs Lindsay, and Captain Andrew Moncrieff, Adjutant of the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Mr Noel Lamb with the Bandmaster, Band Sergeant-Major and Drum Major of the Royal Irish Regiment.

The sun shone as Sunset and the National Anthem were played.

Even a "selfie" was taken with two of the guests, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, and His Grace's predecessor, the Right Rev Alan Harper OBE.

Troopers of the Royal Dragoon Guards stood to attention as guests arrived.

The band of the Royal Irish Regiment paraded on the front lawn.

As did the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards.