Eleventh Night

Some final bonfire porn from last night

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 12, 2011, 7:50 am

| Readers 275

Pitt Park – lower Newtownards Road – could be characterised by alcopops and the bonfire being set off fifteen minutes early … and then clambered over by the teenagers who had lit it. The SDLP election poster for Magdalena Wolska joined the city’s Lord Mayor on the bonfire, along with a message for Neill [sic] Lennon. The large bonfire in King George V Playing Fields was lit on time, but took light very fast, spoiling the anticipation and slow build-up …

Late night stroll with Niall Ó Donnghaile around Short Strand

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 12, 2011, 1:00 am

| Readers 47

To get a different perspective on the Eleventh Night and the Twelfth Day, I went for a late night walk with Niall Ó Donnghaile around Short Strand about half an hour before midnight. While some young folk were congregating around the Mountpottinger/Albertbridge Road junction, the area was largely deserted – the only noise being the PA belting out music in Pitt Park, about a hundred yards away over the wall. Now a Sinn Féin councillor, and this year Belfast’s Lord …

Five minute guide to building a bonfire

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 11, 2011, 10:00 pm

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Bonfire in King George V Playing Fields in East Belfast

Three years ago as part of an organised tour that looked at the history around 1690 and then took in bonfires, parades and even the field, I ended up in King George V Playing Fields after midnight to witness the big East Belfast bonfire. Late this afternoon I talked to Rob about the construction effort that has gone into this year’s bonfire at that site. The guys were putting the final pallets on the top and ‘decorating’ the bonfire with …

Donegall Road/Broadway bonfire ablaze 16 hours early

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on July 11, 2011, 9:04 am

| Readers 140

There was disappointment and a hint of anger in the voices of the group of teenagers who were the first to arrive at the Donegall Road/Broadway bonfire this morning. Days of effort destroyed. (link to video) Sixteen hours early, someone – and fingers were pointing at another community – had lit the unguarded bonfire. The blaze was well underway when the fire truck arrived, briefly pausing before driving off. What the pictures can’t depict is the wall of heat that …