The environmental cost of Northern Ireland’s bonfires
A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, County Tyrone. The burning of loyalist bonfires is part of the traditional Twelfth commemorations marking the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Every July, towering stacks of pallets, tyres, and waste materials appear overnight across parts of Northern Ireland as monuments not for celebration, but towards division. These are the Eleventh Night bonfires, lit by loyalist communities on the eve of July 12 to mark the victory of William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. For others in the North, however, they represent a provocative display of sectarianism, often accompanied by effigies, flags, and symbols intended to intimidate.
Beyond their political symbolism, the environmental toll of these bonfires is immense, and growing. Beneath the flickering flames lies a deeper, smouldering issue: air pollution, toxic emissions, and damage to land and water. In the face of climate change and public health challenges, questions are being raised, not just about what these bonfires stand for, but what they’re doing to the environment we all share.
