Crowds gathered as the world's tallest ever bonfire was set alight in Northern Ireland.
Thousands looked on in Larne, Co Antrim, as the Craigyhill bonfire was lit at midnight with organisers confident that they had broken the world record for the tallest bonfire, after the pyre was measured at 202.3ft.
Nearby houses had their windows boarded up and the fire service hosed down properties to protect against the heat of the massive bonfire as it went up in flames.
However, the build-up to the “Eleventh Night” celebrations was overshadowed by the death of a bonfire builder in Co Antrim on Saturday night.
John Steele, a window cleaner who was aged in his mid-30s, was killed when he fell from a separate bonfire in Larne that stood more than 50 feet tall.
In total more than 250 bonfires were constructed in loyalist neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland.
The fires are traditionally ignited on the eve of the “Twelfth of July” – a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690.
The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown.
Fire and rescue crews recieved a total of 203 emergency calls on the first night of celebrations. As hundreds of bonfires were lit, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) responded to 98 operational incidents.
A spokesperson said there was a 12.5% decrease in bonfire incidents compared to 2021, with the night’s activity reaching its peak between 11pm and 1am.
They added that between 6pm on Monday and 2am on Tuesday, 35 of the 98 operational incidents NIFRS responded to related to bonfires.
“NIFRS maintained normal emergency response throughout the evening, attending a range of operational incidents including special service calls, a road traffic collision and other emergencies,” the spokesperson said.
