There seems to be a change in the air over bonfires this year. One might say that this year the much-acclaimed ‘bonfire builders’, a profession in its own right it seems, have been making up for lost time due to the pandemic. Most if not all bonfires were festooned with Irish flags, papal flags, GAA flags, Irish Republic flags (not to be mistaken for the Irish Tricolour), and more. However, what seems to have set heads turning was the effigies on one particular bonfire in Carrickfergus. Three effigies of three female politicians, Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O’Neill, and Alliance Leader, Naomi Long.
These effigies in question weren’t just placed on the bonfire, they were hung, dare I say lynched on the bonfire as if they were being hung for some heinous crime. Lynching of course was a punishment synonymous with slavery in the United States. The word ‘lynching’ itself was most often used to characterise informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. That last word – ‘intimidate’ is something bonfires have been famous for in the past, used as some sort of perverse billboard or platform to threaten and intimidate or show hatred toward politicians, races, and even specific personalities.
This year, however, something changed. This year even Unionists and Loyalists seemed as fed up with the show of sheer hatred and sectarianism from an alleged few within their ranks who seem to be incapable of celebrating their culture without the burning of flags, effigies, and election posters. There was rage from nationalists who watched their flag burn once again alongside that of the Palestinian flag. It was claimed by some that the reason the flag of Ireland was on bonfires was that it was the flag of the IRA. In which case logic would dictate that every Irish citizen on this planet Earth is a member of the IRA, which clearly they aren’t and have never been. Logic, however, does not seem to be a strong point within that section of Loyalism and Unionism being interviewed with these questions.
Anyway, I digress on the flag issue. The effigies seem to have outraged even some of the more hardcore of bonie-supporting Loyalists. Surprisingly, Twitter went wild with Loyalists condemning the effigies – “Let us not get dragged kicking and screaming to deal with what is an actual issue, not fabricated, it’s very real. The 12th can be a cultural event for many more if we remove the hate that some show on the 11th. Unionism can change the perception of Unionism. No one else.”
There are many more tweets like that from really quite surprising people, namely Jamie Bryson, who almost outright condemned paraphernalia on bonfires but stopped short claiming it was legitimate to burn the Irish flag due to Dublin sticking its nose into “Norn Iron’s affairs”. Obviously, Jamie is still completely oblivious to the fact there are people in the North who claim Irish citizenship, a right protected by and enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. As a co-guarantor of the GFA the Irish government has a right to a certain extent to stick its nose into Northern Irish affairs, even if that nose is more than a little grubby. Councillor John Kyle responded to the above Tweet saying – “I agree with this. As the Unionist family we need to have some serious conversations.” I would tend to agree, John, I would tend to agree.
You see, I think we’ve arrived at a juncture where Unionism and Loyalism are standing hand in hand, actually starting to look in the mirror at themselves and are realising what a God-awful mess they have made of not only themselves but the perception everyone around them now has of them, including the English. Many Unionists have woken up and realised their culture is rightly perceived as one of sheer sectarianism and hatred centred around bonfires and that needs changing. This change, this evolution of Loyalist culture needs to be led in part by grassroots Loyalists because if it isn’t, the Loyalist culture will be used as leverage by the likes of the DUP to use that anti-nationalist, anti-Catholic rhetoric we hear regularly from them to stir up tensions when they don’t get what they want politically. I actually think a lot of Loyalists are starting to realise they along with their culture have been abused politically.
What I find interesting is the likes of Jim Wilson coming on the Nolan Show and having a go at the BBC and Vinnie Hurl for daring to report on the flags, emblems, and effigies on the bonfires. Jim claims it’s their culture and it isn’t perfect. That there is some bad in it but good work is going on to rectify that. Because of this Jim seems to think the hatred and hanging effigies should be ignored. It somewhat harks back to my recent piece where I asked if there are so many decent Loyalist human beings, and I don’t for one minute claim there aren’t…why aren’t the effigies, flags, and emblems being removed right in front of the bad apples? I suppose my real question is, are paramilitaries involved in the building of the bonfires and if so is that the reason the decent people within the Loyalist community are not stepping up and taking a stand? Why aren’t Unionist politicians stepping up and clearing the bonfires of the sectarian and insulting additions? After all, they’re the ones who appear on the television on the 12th condemning the paraphernalia and effigies EVERY YEAR.
I would like to give a mention to the Clandeboye community for doing it right this year. They had a simple beacon, no flags, emblems, or any hate-filled additions on it and they had bouncy castles and games and a festive, light-hearted vibe to the day and night. I can accept that kind of bonfire but in general, Loyalist culture needs to evolve with the times into a culture acceptable in a shared society. If not, it will come face to face with adversity every year. Thankfully, smart heads in Unionism and Loyalism seem to be prevailing and we may see a different 11th of July next year.
Here’s hoping!
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