Hundreds of eleventh night bonfires blazed across Northern Ireland on Friday evening, including a controversial pyre in Belfast built on an asbestos-contaminated site despite urgent warnings from officials. The traditional fires mark the eve of Orange Order parades celebrating the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.
The most contentious bonfire at Meridi Street off the Donegall Road in south Belfast was lit as planned, defying calls from Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir to abandon the event. The site contains asbestos and sits dangerously close to an electricity sub-station that powers two major Belfast hospitals.
Controversial effigies spark outrage
A separate bonfire at nearby Roden Street was topped with effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap, along with a sign written in the Irish language. The Belfast-based trio, known for their republican views and Irish-language lyrics, have become frequent targets at loyalist bonfires.
Another pyre in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, County Tyrone, featured a poster of the group with the threatening message "Kill Your Local Kneecap". This appeared to reference a 2023 gig where a band member reportedly said: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
Sectarian symbols draw criticism
Political representatives and community leaders condemned the placement of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on numerous bonfires, including one in the Highfield area of west Belfast. The displays have reignited concerns about the divisive nature of some eleventh night celebrations.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also responded to a separate gorse blaze in the Belfast Hills off the Ballyutoag Road as crews worked to manage multiple incidents across the region. Emergency services had prepared for a busy night with hundreds of fires planned across loyalist neighbourhoods.
Migrant effigy sparks hate investigation
A small number of bonfires were lit early on Thursday night, including the widely criticised pyre in Moygashel, County Tyrone. The bonfire was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat, featuring more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets.
Placards below the boat displayed messages including "Stop the boats" and "Veterans before refugees". The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they were investigating the display as a hate incident following widespread condemnation from political representatives and church leaders.
The eleventh night tradition precedes Saturday's Orange Order parades commemorating Protestant King William of Orange's victory over Catholic King James II. The celebrations remain a source of tension in Northern Ireland's divided communities, with authorities working to balance cultural expression with public safety and community relations.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
