Twelfth of July celebrations have commenced in Northern Ireland with the traditional lighting of bonfires. A number of Eleventh Night bonfires were lit late on Friday, with additional pyres scheduled to be ignited on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Portadown Bonfire Event
A large crowd gathered at the Corcrain bonfire in Portadown on Friday night, where a fireworks display also took place. The Loyalist Corcrain Redmanville (LCR) bonfire was a focal point of the evening's festivities.
The bonfires are lit in advance of the Orange Order’s July 12 parades, which will take place across Northern Ireland on Monday. These parades commemorate the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, a pivotal event in which the Protestant King William of Orange defeated the Catholic King James.
Controversy Surrounding Bonfires
While the majority of bonfires pass without incident, some have drawn controversy due to the placement of flags, effigies, and election posters on the structures before they are ignited. Widespread condemnation followed after a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, featured a replica of a mosque on top. That bonfire was lit a day early on Thursday night, ahead of a planned police operation to remove the effigy.
