Call for more direct engagement on bonfires in Derry

A Council spokesperson said it has been “working proactively with all relevant agencies and the local community” in relation to finding solutions to ongoing bonfire issues in local community areas.

“Much positive work and community engagement is being carried out with the support of all partners,” the spokesperson said, adding:

“Council is supportive of the extensive work being led by our community partners to engage with young people through a wide range of programmes and activities to raise awareness of the dangers of bonfires and provide alternatives to this activity.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public, particularly young people, of the restrictions around unregulated mass gatherings and advise people to consider the very real health and safety concerns around the transmission of Covid-19 and urge them to avoid attending events this weekend that will put themselves and others at risk.”

The Council was responding to a call from Derry community worker Conal McFeely of Ráth Mór for the Council to lead a “proactive process of engaging young people” as opposed to what is seen as marginalisation.

Mr McFeely said: “Clearly there are major concerns about unregulated bonfires in the city, and many of us would rather they did not take place at all.

“In saying that, many young people believe that bonfires are an age-old tradition – and that they have an entitlement to carry on this tradition. They see other bonfires take place, from which they are excluded, and they point to the fact that their parents and grandparents participated in the bonfire tradition.

“Our engagement with young bonfire builders has been for the most part very positive. They have agreed to remove tyres, and other toxic materials from the sites, and to take part in this year’s clean-up. They don’t cut down trees – and they point out it that it is adults who have been dumping tyres and other materials at the sites – and that it is the young people themselves who have raising environmental concerns.

“There is an onus on us to encourage young people not to festoon their bonfires with offensive hate messaging and to resist the temptation to reflect the sectarian nature of some sections of our society.

“Going forward our council needs to lead a proactive process of engaging young people instead what is seen as a process of marginalisation.”

Mr McFeely said the bonfire issue was not unique to Derry and is a phenomenon which exists all over this island and beyond. “And we fully recognise that there are accompanying issues with anti-social behaviour which must be addressed.”

He suggested learning from a successful model in Cork could be a way forward, adding: “We have no option but to deal with this issue in a constructive and meaningful way and to engage with our younger generations.”