Northern Ireland bonfires make headlines with stunts ahead of the 12th of July

Some 300 bonfires are expected to be lit across Northern Ireland tonight, July 11, in advance of the 12th of July holiday that is observed annually by loyalists.

Ahead of the lighting of the pyres, however, two bonfires staged headline-grabbing stunts, though for very different reasons.

On July 9, Stephen Maginnis made history for what he claims is the world's first base jump from a bonfire.

He shared a video of his jump from the Craigyhill bonfire in Larne, Co Antrim on social media on Tuesday:

The jump was organized to benefit Skye Carson, a one-year-old who is due to begin chemotherapy this week, and in memory of Scarlett Rossborough, an eight-year-old from Larne who was killed in a car accident last year.

At the time of publication on Thursday, the GoFundMe had raised £2,892 of its £3,000 target.

After the jump, the organizers of the Craigyhill bonfire said Maginnis "is a professional base jumper, not some egite with a parachute."

They added: "We decided to let Stephen do this to draw attention to this worthy cause and hopefully get the funds needed to help wee Skye and to help the children’s hospice in aid of young Scarlet."

The following day, the Craigyhill bonfire organizers celebrated after their pyre topped out at just over 205 feet, surpassing what the Guinness Book of World Records says was the tallest bonfire in the world - a 198 ft 11 in structure in Austria in 2019.

The Craigyhill bonfire is set to be lit on fire tonight, Thursday.

Elsewhere, the Moygashel bonfire in Co Tyrone has made headlines this week after a police car - which featured pictures of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Sinn Féin MLA and member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Gerry Kelly - was placed atop the structure.

This comes a year after the Moygashel bonfire featured Ireland's then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the Irish tricolor, and a sign saying "Good Friday Agreement? ... That ship has sailed."

The Moygashel Bonfire Association said in a statement on social media on Wednesday: "A mockup police car occupied by Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly was placed on top of Moygashel bonfire this year as a political statement to highlight the strong opposition currently felt among loyalists towards the union dismantling 'Donaldson Deal'.

"Jeffrey and those who aided and abetted him by deploying lies and deceit to force the 'surrender deal' upon unionism should hang their heads in shame. Grassroots Loyalism and Unionism will never forget this betrayal and shall continue the fight in opposition to the Irish sea border.

"What better way to grab headlines and spread such a message than through the use of a police vehicle.

"Alternatively an image of Gerry 'bomber' Kelly riding shotgun serves as a stark reminder that unapologetic republican murderers lurk at the heart of our government and security services where they hold a gun to the head of our so called peace process. The outcome is a two-tier justice system by means of continued Loyalist legacy inquests and the persecution of our veterans whilst republicans enjoy the protection of comfort letters and the benefits of an active republican appeasement policy."

The association said that its bonfire topper "is not intended to offend or threaten but is merely a political assertion combined with cultural expression."

Noting that they are self-funded, organizers added: "We continue to be overwhelmed by the ever increasing support and attendance each year by those who share similar views and wish to celebrate their culture in a family-friendly and peaceful environment."

Responding to the Moygashel display, PSNI District Commander for Mid Ulster Superintendent Michael O’Loan said: “Police are aware of a vehicle being placed on a bonfire in the Main Road area of Moygashel.

“We will continue to engage with the landowner, statutory partners and the local community to ensure members of the public and residents are kept safe.”

The Moygashel bonfire, as well as the police car at its top, was lit on fire on Wednesday night. Some videos on social media showed the blazing structure toppling into trees as crowds looked on.