In Ireland, an orange rage continues to burn over the Twelfth
In Northern Ireland, sparks between Catholics and Protestants are still everywhere, alight
In Northern Ireland, July 12 is commemorated by the burning of Irish flags, and the marching of Orangemen through the streets. This year’s celebrations, captured by Toronto photographer Paul Colangelo, were not marred by the often deadly clashes between Protestants and Catholics. Nonetheless, there are still some bubbling tensions: “It’s still referred to as a mixed marriage when a Catholic marries a Protestant,” says Colangelo.
July 12 is known as Orangeman’s Day, or simply the Twelfth. It commemorates the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when William of Orange defeated James II and began the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. The bonfires, some more than 30 m high, are lit the night before by Protestant youth. The massive structures are fiercely guarded by young Protestants—sometimes affiliated with now disbanded paramilitary groups—while young Catholics try and burn the structures before July 11.
This year, three Belfast homes were damaged by out-of-control fires. Hardliners on both sides are attracted to the festivities, and while many of them are too young to remember the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, hatred and anger are passed down through generations.
“After a few drinks I had one young guy screaming, ‘F–k all Catholics.’ Another guy walking by yelled, ‘F–k the Pope,’ ” says Colangelo. The fallout from Brexit could reopen old wounds. Northern Ireland voted 56 to 44 per cent to stay in the European Union, and now there’s talk of a referendum to join Ireland.
Gallery
Ireland's Orange parade bonfires
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The bonfire in Ballymacash, Lisburn was one of the tallest in Northern Ireland in 2016. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Men throw pallets into the center of the Sydenham bonfire in East Belfast. Historically, each street in Protestant communities had their own small bonfire on the Eleventh Night, but over time this evolved into one large bonfire for the entire community. The massive bonfires are not sanctioned by government nor the Orange Order--it is strictly a community effort and not without controversy, as the fires are often close to homes and have caused house fires. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Two boys carry Sinn Féin political posters to hang on a bonfire in Shankill Estate in West Belfast. Sinn Féin is the largest Nationalist party in Northern Ireland. Political posters and Irish flags are often hung on the bonfires to be burned. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A mural for the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) on Shankill Road in West Belfast. Murals commemorating the various paramilitary groups--both Unionist and Nationalist, are found throughout Belfast. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Two children climb down from a tower of pallets in Shankill Estate in West Belfast. This tower was one of the largest in Northern Ireland for this year's Protestant celebration known as The Twelfth, or Orangemen's Day. The Twelfth is a celebration of the Glorious Revolution (1688) and the victory of Protestant king William of Orange over Catholic king James II at the Battle of the Boyne (1690), which began the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. Bonfires reaching over 100' high are lit throughout Northern Ireland the night before The Twelfth, known as the Eleventh Night. It's a tradition that commemorates the lighting of fires to help Williamite ships navigate through Belfast Lough at night on their way to fight the Catholic Jacobites. The Twelfth has frequently errupted in violence between Protestant/Unionists and Catholics/Nationalists, revealing tensions that remain after the Belfast Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that marked the end of The Troubles. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Two young boys help build a bonfire in East Belfast. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Members of the Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh, a seaside town in the Republic of Ireland. This is the only Orange Parade that occurs in the Republic Ireland, the rest being held in Northern Ireland. This particular parade is quiet, peaceful and has a family atmosphere. Others in more contentious parts of Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast, have frequency become violent when the Orangemen march through areas that have become predominantly Catholic. Some Catholics find the parades triumphalist, sectarian, and supremacist, and try to force the parade to reroute. Some Protestants see this as an attack on their tradition and argue that they are only trying to march through the main streets and the same routes they have always marched. The parades in 2016 were hailed as one of the most peaceful parades in memory, giving many hope for resolution. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A crowd watches a bonfire in Shankill Estate in West Belfast. On July 11th, or the Eleventh Night, bonfires are lit across Northern Ireland. This Protestant tradition commemorates the lighting of fires along the coast to help Williamite ships navigate Belfast Lough at night when the forces landed to fight the Catholic Jacobites. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A marching band parades through downtown Belfast followed by Orangemen of a particular Orange Lodge on July 12th. Marching bands are a popular part of Protestant culture among all generations in Northern Ireland. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Spectators show their patriotism. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A man waves to a friend while celebrating The Twelfth at Jodie Morrison's (third from left) house. Her home is directly across the street from the Shankill Estate bonfire in West Belfast--close enough that the fire could damage her house. The local council boards up the windows of all homes surrounding the fires. This year, three homes were damaged when their roofs caught on fire. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Shops display patriotic paraphernalia for parade spectators. Nortern Ireland becomes a battle of flags--Protestant communities are drapped in Union Jacks, the curbs are painted red, white and blue, and the paramilitary flags of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA) are common. Less frequently, hate slogans are displayed, such as KAT (Kill All Taigs), Taig being a derogatory term for Catholics. In turn, the Republic of Ireland flag is often put up in Catholic areas adjacent to the parade routes. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Six-year-old Luke Simpson lights the children's bonfire in Ballycraigy, Antrim. The main bonfires are lit at midnight, but smaller fires are lit earlier for the children to enjoy. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A young man wears the traditional hat worn by the Orange Order and a Union Jack as he watches the children's bonfire of Sydenham, East Belfast. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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Bonfires are lit throughout Belfast at 12am on July 11th, the night before the parades on the 12th. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)
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A Union J
A Union Jack lies in the remains of a bonfire. (Photograph by Paul Colangelo)