skid2
MIA
Skid in relation to bonfires in Loyalist area's the reason they have largely disappeared is due to there simply being less and less land to put them on.
Where I am on the Lower Newtonards Rd, we have a bit of tarmaced land set aside in between the new houses and the play park for a bonfire.
The appetite is still there to celebrate the 11th of July as long as it's done correctly and led responsibly by the local communities.
I think it showed how much local communities still want, well organised bonfires, when half of the Albertbridge Rd turned out to stop the Avoniel bonfire from being lifted.
We went all over the Shankill one 11th night carrying beer, cameras and loads of film. This being back in the days of side street bonfires, before the monster ones. We were plied with food and more beer.
No one objected to having their photo taken, or explaining what was going on.it was just a big night out. And it didn’t rain, I remember getting back to my friends place in Oregon St which in those days was right on the peace line, a two up two down, outside bog, terrace house.
And there were still people coming in behind us. Nobody got any grief at all and these were mixed groups, male, female, local, foreign.
I’ve no idea what changed things but after trouble the following year
it never happened again.
Edit.. Last 12th morning , cafe in east Belfast. Near the scene of one disputed bonfire we stopped in for a fry.
A couple of guys sitting just inside the door, bit weird.
Got our order and asked if everything was alright.
‘Oh yes’, said the waitress ‘They’re just here in case there’s trouble’.
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