Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bonfire builder
They divide opinion but creator claims pyres are a force for good
BONFIRES across the country will be lit tomorrow after a controversial lead up to the Eleventh night.
But the traditional pyres have gained even more attention this year with injunctions, council storing of materials, thefts and fire safety issues over the sites and size.
However, for one man they bring nothing but good to the community and he believes help keep young people out of trouble.
Andre Austin is behind the building of one of the biggest bonfires in Northern Ireland and said it is different from many others as it is completely community focused.
From May to July, he claims young people are not hanging about, drinking or taking drugs in the Corcrain Redmanville area of Portadown because they have something to do. And working on the fire has helped two teenagers from the Co Armagh estate to take their minds off the death of a close pal.
Andre said: “We had a recent death where a girl of 15 lost her life experimenting with drugs.
“There’s two young lads down there who were quite close friends with her and they haven’t been out with their usual group of friends since this bonfire started. They found something to do here.”
But those boys are not alone, as Andre said the fire gives dozens more a place to focus their energy.
He added: “They know there’s something to do here all the time from putting up flags, to helping clean up or putting pallets on the fire.
“It keeps them busy at the weekends. It keeps them off drink and out of the police’s road.” But the young bricklayer is worried about what the teenagers will do after it’s burned.
Andre said: “If that bonfire could go all year round I would have it because it just keeps kids really occupied. There’s nothing for teenagers. After this, they will go back to boredom.
“Anti-social behaviour will rise between mid-july to September until they are back to school but this draws them away from it.”
Andre said the estate he lives in has not been improved in his lifetime, but he would like to see things for the kids to do such as new facilities, drop-in centres, education centres.
He added: “For 20 years I have not seen this place get investment and that’s the truth.
As for the fire itself, the 24-year-old hailed it as “the pride of the community”. Andre said: “One of the unique things about this fire is there’s no paramilitary involvement and it’s been the same this past three years.
“A lot of bonfires around town will have a certain three letters hanging from the pole above it. We fly the country’s flag and a Drumcree flag because it’s only up the road.”
Andre said he got the job directing the build because he’s the only one who has the nerve to get up and stack pallets.
Known as “the general”, under his watch the fire has been built without tyres or election posters and has also been positioned far enough away from homes not to pose a threat.
He also said the group work with the council to make sure illegal waste such as tyres are removed when they are dumped at the site.
As for what the pyre will be decorated with, he revealed the “republican flag and an effigy of Lundy” will be
It keeps them off drink and out of the police’s road ANDRE AUSTIN PORTADOWN, CO ARMAGH
There’s no paramilitary involvement and it’s been that way for three years ANDRE AUSTIN PORTADOWN, CO ARMAGH
going on top . Andre said: “This year we are going back to traditional roots of why bonfires happen and political posters are nothing to do with it.
“Once the bonfire was lit we knew we won the Battle of the Boyne and that’s who we are.”
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Alan Walmsley said the main priority is to keep people safe from the dangers of fire and appealed directly to the bonfire builders and community representatives to listen to advice.
He added: “Since 2013 there has been a downward trend in the number of bonfire-related incidents attended but we did experience a small increase last year.
“We are hoping this year to see a further reduction in the number of bonfire related incidents we attend but this can only be achieved if people think safety first at bonfires. We will continue to work with local communities, community leaders, local councils and land owners to put safety first at bonfires.
“Bonfires should be kept at a manageable size and sited in a clear, open space at a safe distance from buildings and overhead cables.
“A bonfire should be a minimum distance of five times its height from property.
“We are also asking the community for their support to ensure that if firefighters are called out to attend a bonfire it is because someone in the local community is concerned about their safety and has contacted us for help.
“Firefighters are not out to spoil anyone’s fun – their job is to protect life and property from fire.”