THE TRADITIONAL loyalist bonfire night, which takes place on July 11 on the eve of the marching day on 'the Twelfth', passed off relatively peacefully this year.
In a statement, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it received a total of 88 fire calls between 6pm on Saturday and 1am on Sunday, which was a decrease on last year's figures. More than a dozen bonfires needed active intervention by crews.
In Belfast, more than 30 firefighters helped to protect homes close to a large bonfire near Chobham Street, east Belfast. The fire, built mainly of wooden pallets, towered over neighbouring houses.
In advance of the bonfire being lit on Saturday at midnight, windows and doors of 54 homes were boarded up to protect the glass — at a cost to the council of £10,000.
Fire crews were on standby in nearby streets, with six fire appliances and 35 firefighters required at the site.
Elsewhere in the city the bonfires attracted large crowds, who watched as a variety of republican and Catholic symbols were burnt, as well as a range of flags. The Irish Tricolour was widely consigned to the flames, sometimes with the initials KAT [Kill All Taigs] appended.
A popular addition to flags being burnt this year was that of Islamic State, as well as an old favourite: the banner of the Ivory Coast. The African flag is often favoured as it has the same colours as the Irish Tricolour, although in reverse direction.
Also making an appearance was the Indian flag, which although made up of horizontal stripes and featuring a prayer wheel in the middle, is orange, white and green.
Flags that were not burnt, but instead paraded with pride, included a US Confederate emblazoned with LVF. The flag, often associated with slavery and white supremacy, has been removed from official US buildings due to its link with the gunman who carried out the recent massacre at an African American church in South Carolina.
Martin McGuinness once again proved a popular effigy to burn — sometimes in a coffin, and sometimes accompanied by Gerry Adams or Bobby Sands.
Sinn Féin election posters were another popular fuel for the fires. SDLP posters were similarly consigned to the flames — one notably had a sex toy attached, leaving it to the onlookers to work out the political message.
One of the largest bonfires this year was erected in the New Mossley estate in Newtownabbey. Adorned with Irish Tricolours and other republican flags, it rose over 100 feet into the air.
The bonfire collapsed shortly after it was ignited but there were no reports of injuries.
