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| ]The '''eleventh night''' refers to the night before ], an annual ] commemoration of the ], fought 12 July 1690 |
]The '''eleventh night''' refers to the night before ], an annual ] commemoration of the ], fought 12 July 1690. On this night, some ] communities in Northern Ireland light ]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| The bonfires have raised both health and safety concerns, as well as environmental ones, particularly due to the use of tyres and the close proximity to buildings of some bonfires.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Health fears over burning tyres |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6288838.stm |date=11 July 2007 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ==History of bonfires on the eleventh night== | ==History of bonfires on the eleventh night== | ||
| ⚫ | ] hung on the lamp post in the foreground]] | ||
| {{seealso|Glorious Revolution|Williamite War in Ireland}} | |||
| ⚫ | Bonfires in Northern Ireland traditionally mark the night before the Twelfth. However, should the Twelfth fall on a Sunday, as it did in 2009, the ] is given in lieu on the preceding Monday. This means that some bonfires may also be held on a Sunday night.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Thosands to take part in Twelfth |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8146817.stm |date=13 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| Traditionally, bonfires are lit to commemorate the lighting of bonfires on the hills of ] and ] to aid ]'s navigation through ] (then Carrickfergus Lough) at night. William landed at ] with English, French and Dutch forces with which to fight the exiled ], who had been trying to regain his British kingdoms through support amongst Roman Catholics of France and Ireland. | |||
| ⚫ | Due to the bonfires being held by members of the Unionist community in predominantly Unionist areas, some bonfires are adorned with ] emblems. These include ], shirts and uniforms of ] ] ] team, or a ] emblem, are burnt along with the bonfire.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | Bonfires in |
||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| ⚫ | ] hung on the lamp post in the foreground]] | ||
| ⚫ | Due to the bonfires being held by members of the Unionist community in predominantly Unionist areas, some bonfires are adorned with ] emblems. These include ], shirts and uniforms of ] ] ] team, or a ] emblem, are burnt along with the bonfire.<ref |
||
| A further sectarian element has been added to some bonfires due to 'shows of strength' by ] ] such as the ] (UDA) and ] (UVF), who have sent hooded gunmen to some bonfires to fire into the air. | A further sectarian element has been added to some bonfires due to 'shows of strength' by ] ] such as the ] (UDA) and ] (UVF), who have sent hooded gunmen to some bonfires to fire into the air. | ||
| Another major issue some have with the bonfires is their association with violence and ] amongst those attending.<ref |
Another major issue some have with the bonfires is their association with violence and ] amongst those attending.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| ==Environmental concerns of bonfires== | |||
| ⚫ | Bonfires are often built to be as large as possible. In the past, and in some cases even now, bonfires have been built close to houses and ] complexes, amongst other buildings. Roads are often damaged, and, according to the ], clean-up and repairs made to roads due to bonfire-related damage can "cost thousands of pounds", with some roads even needing to be resurfaced.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| A major concern of bonfires that has risen to greater prominence in recent years is the ] they cause. In many traditional bonfires, despite bans by bodies such as ], tyres are burnt. Tyres produce many toxic ]s when burnt, and therefore pose a major health issue. The general wood burnt in the bonfires also contributes to the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Bonfires are often built to be as large as possible. In the past, and in some cases even now, bonfires have been built close to houses and ] complexes, amongst other buildings. Roads are often damaged, and, according to the ], clean-up and repairs made to roads due to bonfire-related damage can "cost thousands of pounds", with some roads needing to be resurfaced.<ref |
||
| A major concern of bonfires that has risen to greater prominence in recent years is the ] they cause. In some bonfires, despite bans by bodies such as ], tyres are burnt. Tyres produce many toxic ]s when burnt, and therefore pose a major health issue. The general wood burnt in the bonfires also contributes to the ] and ].<ref name=bbc/> | |||
| ===Environmentally-friendly bonfires=== | ===Environmentally-friendly bonfires=== | ||
| A more ] bonfire design, known as a beacon due to its pyramid shape, is enclosed in a metal cage, and made from willow chips, made from ]s which re-grow within a year of being cut down. This makes the new beacon design of bonfire ]. The new design is being used in some areas of Belfast, where communities are given ]1,200 for using these bonfires. | A more ] bonfire design, known as a beacon due to its pyramid shape, is enclosed in a metal cage, and made from willow chips, made from ]s which re-grow within a year of being cut down. This makes the new beacon design of bonfire ]. The new design is being used in some areas of Belfast, where communities are given ]1,200 for using these bonfires. | ||
| However, some Unionist communities oppose the beacon design, claiming that it |
However, some Unionist communities oppose the beacon design, claiming that it infriges upon their culture.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8145554.stm |date=10 July 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009}}</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] - Period of conflict in Northern Ireland, during which more tension and violence surrounded events such as the 11/12 July | |||
| *] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Revision as of 19:55, 21 December 2009
The eleventh night refers to the night before The Twelfth, an annual Protestant commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne, fought 12 July 1690. On this night, some Unionist communities in Northern Ireland light bonfires.
The bonfires have raised both health and safety concerns, as well as environmental ones, particularly due to the use of tyres and the close proximity to buildings of some bonfires.
History of bonfires on the eleventh night
Bonfires in Northern Ireland traditionally mark the night before the Twelfth. However, should the Twelfth fall on a Sunday, as it did in 2009, the public holiday is given in lieu on the preceding Monday. This means that some bonfires may also be held on a Sunday night.
Due to the bonfires being held by members of the Unionist community in predominantly Unionist areas, some bonfires are adorned with nationalist emblems. These include Irish flags, shirts and uniforms of Glasgow's Celtic F.C. football team, or a Catholic emblem, are burnt along with the bonfire.
A further sectarian element has been added to some bonfires due to 'shows of strength' by loyalist paramilitaries such as the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), who have sent hooded gunmen to some bonfires to fire into the air.
Another major issue some have with the bonfires is their association with violence and drunkenness amongst those attending.
Environmental concerns of bonfires
Bonfires are often built to be as large as possible. In the past, and in some cases even now, bonfires have been built close to houses and council flat complexes, amongst other buildings. Roads are often damaged, and, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation, clean-up and repairs made to roads due to bonfire-related damage can "cost thousands of pounds", with some roads even needing to be resurfaced. A major concern of bonfires that has risen to greater prominence in recent years is the pollution they cause. In many traditional bonfires, despite bans by bodies such as Belfast City Council, tyres are burnt. Tyres produce many toxic chemical compounds when burnt, and therefore pose a major health issue. The general wood burnt in the bonfires also contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Environmentally-friendly bonfires
A more environmentally-friendly bonfire design, known as a beacon due to its pyramid shape, is enclosed in a metal cage, and made from willow chips, made from willow trees which re-grow within a year of being cut down. This makes the new beacon design of bonfire carbon neutral. The new design is being used in some areas of Belfast, where communities are given £1,200 for using these bonfires.
However, some Unionist communities oppose the beacon design, claiming that it infriges upon their culture.
References
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Health fears over burning tyres". 11 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Thosands to take part in Twelfth". 13 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- "BBC NEWS-Northern Ireland-Turning Hotspot into friendly fire". 10 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
See also
- The Twelfth
- Orange Order
- Unionism in Ireland
- History of Northern Ireland
- The Troubles - Period of conflict in Northern Ireland, during which more tension and violence surrounded events such as the 11/12 July