The Northern Ireland Motorcycle Branch was first established in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone in the summer of 2008 with our first official meeting in March 2009. We were originally formed to provide a motorcycle outlet for our serving, ex-service personnel and their families in our province, which has some unique security issues that are not a concern in the rest of the UK.
We have had over 100 members in our ranks since we started, but we are always on the outlook for new ones.
We have held our Branch Meetings in Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Cookstown, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Fivemiletown, Loughbrickland, Lurgan, Portadown and Randalstown with the aim to visit all Branches with premises through time.
We've been on parade in Dungannon, Newtownards, Portadown, Tandragee, Antrim, Bangor, Banbridge and Belfast, and have visited RBL branches from The Isle of Man to Malta. We've also had representation at The Ride Of Respect in 2015 and The Ride To The Wall since 2013.
In 2012 we had the honour of launching the Poppy Appeal, here in Northern Ireland, by riding our bikes to City Hall and presenting the Lord Mayor with a poppy wreath in the shape of a motorcycle, the event enjoyed quite a bit of TV and press coverage and we were made to feel very welcome by all, even though it was the first time it had been done on motorcycles.
In 2015 and 2016 we were asked again by the RBL to assist in the Poppy Launch with a static display outside the Poppy Shop and Pop In Centre in Belfast, a request which we proudly accepted.