Over two hundred bonfires are lit across Northern Ireland every year on the eve of July 12th, “the Twelfth”, an Ulster Protestant celebration marking the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant William of Orange defeated the Catholic King James II. Preparations begin months in advance and fundraisers are held to pay for the bonfire materials and festivities. Young people are selected and responsible for building the bonfires which usually start to go up in June. Traditionally bonfires were much smaller but in recent years, there is an increasing rivalry between communities to build the biggest.
With many thanks to the women’s group at the Ballykeel community centre for their help with facilitating access for these images.