The Vol. Sean McIlvenna RFB Glasgow flute band have been practicing at St Roch’s Secondary School, it has emerged.

17:16, 05 Apr 2026Updated 17:18, 05 Apr 2026

A Republican march in Glasgow(Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A pro-IRA flute band has been using a Glasgow school for practice, it has emerged. The Vol. Sean McIlvenna RFB Glasgow band has come under fire after appealing for new members on social media.

Posting on Facebook, the band revealed they have been practicing regularly at St Roch’s Secondary School on Royston Road. Glasgow City Council say they are “looking into the matter” after being urged to act.

The use of council property and a school by a band promoting an IRA gunman has been questioned, with one source telling the Sottish Daily Express: “This is a really poor look. There would be outcry if an Orange Band used a council building, and that’s not even the correct comparison.

“It’s like letting a UVF outfit rehearse in a local school. Sadly, it’s all too typical of Glasgow these days.”

The poster claims the band practices at St Roch’s Secondary School in Glasgow(Image: Facebook)

The band describes itself on social media as “honouring Seán McIlvenna, a devoted husband, father and patriot who sacrificed his life on IRA active service in 1984 for justice and freedom”. A poster attached to the post advertised “new members wanted” and called for people to “join our band now”.

The band say they are “keeping the memory of Ireland’s fallen volunteers alive” on the poster including Sean McIlvenna – a member of the Provisional IRA for whom the band is named. McIlvenna was shot dead in a shoot out with the RUC after he targeted British soldiers with a landmine, injuring several in the process, over 40 years ago.

Royston is an area with a traditionally large Irish Catholic population and was called Garngad until 1942. The name is still sometimes used by people, including the group, with family links to the area.

Flute players, drummers and “colour party members” are all advertised as wanted within the poster which promises free tuition and the chance to “make friends for life” as well as “enjoy functions, parades and trips to Ireland”. McIlvenna was killed in December 1984 after the attack on an Ulster Defence Regiment mobile patrol, near Blackwatertown in County Armagh.

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A spokeswomen for Glasgow City Council said: “We are aware of this and are currently looking into the matter.”

Annie Wells, who is running for the Conservatives in next month’s election, said: “The SNP-led Glasgow City Council must come clean about this situation. Glaswegians will be shocked that this band who are open about paying tribute to an IRA terrorist have been given the green light to use a school to try and recruit new members.

“That is deeply inappropriate and a shocking use of taxpayers’ money. Susan Aitken must look into this matter urgently and explain what due diligence was done before allowing such a group access to one of the city’s schools.”

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