Bonfire Night Belfast The Eleventh July

Bonfires are a part of tradition in Northern Ireland although it is the Eleventh or the 11th July that is most recognised across Northern Ireland as Bonfire Night.

Known locally as the Eleventh it proceeds the Twelfth, both of which are mainly Unionist or Protestant traditions. Do the people partaking in these traditions really know their history, some probably, but who knows, certainly they can trace both traditions back to 1690 and the Battle of the Boyne.

It is believed that the modern day bonfires are to commemorate fires lit on the hilltops of counties Antrim and Down to aid Williamite ships navigate Belfast Lough at night and land at Carrickfergus.

Modern day bonfires are being cleansed by Northern Ireland Council's who now aid the tradition financially to ensure that rubbish, tyres and other dangerous products are not burnt on the fires and that offence is not caused to other communities. The tradition of bonfires across Northern Ireland can ont be said to be dying out but the numbers are certainly in massive decline.