At midnight rolling into the 12th of July, members of Belfast's Protestant community lit up the Sandy Row bonfire to commemorate the Protestant King William of Orange's victory over the deposed Catholic King James the II at the Battle of the Boyne.
The bonfires lit across Northern Ireland on this night are seen by many as controversial and sectarian, since many are covered in Irish flags and symbols of the Catholic community before being ignited. Many Belfast Catholics simply leave the city during this time to avoid potential confrontation. Protestants on the other hand see the bonfires as a traditional celebration of their history and culture.
17 авг 2022
