How would you like this on your doorstep?
Today is the 12th July, a major holiday in Northern Ireland where Loyalists hold Orange Order marches across the country. They are preceded each year on the 11th night with thousands of tyres being set ablaze during loyalist celebrations of the
The pictures were taken from today’s Daily Mail.
9 comments:
Grannymar,
The Battle of the Boyne parade was always carried in our newspapers over here. I think most of us wondered why the Catholics didn't simply ignore the parade and not give the marchers the satisfaction of knowing how annoyed they were.
In the town of Skokie, Illinois near Chicago, there is a very large Jewish population. One year a young nazi group decided to parade through the streets of Skokie.It was widely publicized so they were expecting huge crowds. They walked down the main street thinking they would see all the Jewish people protesting their presence,but they were mistaken. The Jews had very wisely stayed away in droves and there was NO ONE to see the nazi parade. They never marched again.
Nancy, since this is the main holiday fortnight people who can, go away for the duration. Alas not everyone can do that, If you are unfortunate enough to live close to a housing estate like this it is no fun. The fumes alone are awful and the fires burn and smoulder for days on end.
I live in a cul-de-sac of privately owned bungalows and to the rear our ground drops way down to the level of the town. In the past couple of years, thankfully, houses and 3 story apartment blocks have been built in what was an empty field for years. I look right over the apartments without spoiling my view. In years gone past bonfires were built in that field and we had no means of complaining. I remember one year in particular when the mound of tyres and wooden pallets reached to the level of the now ridge tiles of these apartments. At 1a.m. it was like broad day light. Dry summer weather unlike this year did not help and we had the ground and buildings well soaked with the garden hose before the fire was lit at mid-night. It was one year we did not head to our beds early.
Every 12th July morning Jack was outside hosing down the windows, patio, paths and even the lawns so we would not walk black ash and cinders into the house. We were not political people and had friends on all sides. The police were not interested so nobody stopped the burning.
Thankfully this year things seem to have gone over fairly peacefully.
Good grief that's a stack and a half. Where do they get all the tires from? I'm scared.
Conor that is only one example. Similar stacts appear in every town, village and streetend where Loyalists reside.
Sometimes it is hard cheese for the folk who live close by.
That stack is amazing Grannymar. I can imagine how everyone feels about this. I'm wondering how awful the smell of burning rubber must be...and for a long time. I can imagine how upsetting and disruptive it is to everyone around.
That's one amazing bonfire. The only thing close we have here in the U.S. is the bonfire they do (or used to do) at A&M University in Texas.
@Joy you got it in one! The smell lingers for days especially if the weather is warm and dry (unlike this year).
Then folk wonder why the Cancer rates are so high here in N. Ireland.
@Rhea welcome.
Surely they can use the illegality of burning tyres as a way to limit these fires?
Maybe now they might do something about it.
Up to this year if you complained your house might end up on the bonfire!
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