Bonfires go into extra time as this year's Eleventh Night stretches over an entire weekend

Serious feats of engineering and weeks of hard graft have gone into the construction of Eleventh Night bonfires all over Northern Ireland, from lofty edifices soaring above the heads of gathered revellers to smaller community events.

With July 12 falling on a Sunday this year, the annual Twelfth parades are taking place on Monday. That means that although the majority of Ulster’s bonfires are sticking to their traditional July 11 date, close to one-third of organisers have decided to light them on Sunday night instead.

It also gives bonfire builders and aficionados alike double the chance to celebrate their culture, with some of the larger bashes running massive fun days before lighting ’em up.

For some, of course, it’s always the bigger the better. Take Craigyhill, for example; the Larne lads didn’t try to set another record with their skyscraping bonfire this year, though it’s still one heck of a towering achievement visible from miles around.

Instead, they’re spreading the love with two days of music and fun over which they’re hoping to entertain thousands of people.

Saturday’s a family day, with DJs, dancers, fairground attractions and flute bands before the kids’ bonfire is lit at 10pm; Sunday’s the main show, with DJs from 5pm to 3am – the youngest of whom is making her appearance at just 13 years old – and the unofficial ‘biggest bonfire in the world’ lit at midnight.

In a statement, Craigyhill’s bonfire committee said: “It has been fantastic to see the hard work shown right across the country. Every bonfire represents countless hours of voluntary effort by people determined to preserve and celebrate our shared culture, traditions and heritage.”

In south Belfast, two neighbouring bonfires have been helping each other out with what has jokingly been dubbed “hands across the asbestos”, aiding each other stack their pallets high.

The mutual help between the Village and Roden Street events is described as “two communities, two bonfires, one steadfast tradition”, with the Village organisers paying tribute to the final “shift from all the troops” putting the finishing touches to their annual celebration.

Over in Tigers Bay, organisers were pleased to have hit 125 pallets high, after what they said was “a big graft done this week”. Lighting at midnight on Sunday, they stated: “Let’s look forward to the weekend ahead, get this place packed with people and get the monster lit.”

Listed among the largest in Northern Ireland are the LCR in Portadown, one of a handful to be lit on Friday night, and the Kilcooley estate in Bangor, which goes up on Saturday night.

Also sticking to the traditional July 11 date is Kilkeel’s Hairtlan Festival. Run by the Schomberg Society, the Co Down town’s celebration of all things Ulster-Scots includes a pageant featuring the world’s largest lambeg drum and an evening open-air concert offering singers, drum majors and highland dancers along with their bonfire.