On the night of August 15, 2025, the city of Derry—also known as Londonderry—witnessed scenes that have become all too familiar during Northern Ireland’s summer bonfire season. As darkness fell over the Bogside and Creggan neighborhoods, towering pyres were set ablaze, their flames illuminating crowds that had gathered in anticipation. But this year, the bonfires—traditionally marking the Catholic feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary—ignited not just wood, but a new wave of controversy and condemnation from political leaders and community advocates alike.
According to Highland Radio and Newsletter, the bonfires, lit just after 11pm, were adorned with a collection of symbols and emblems that cut to the heart of Northern Ireland’s enduring sectarian divisions. Union flags, Israeli flags, poppy wreaths, and even a Parachute Regiment flag were among the items set alight. Some flags bore the images of the King and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The spectacle, while rooted in decades-old traditions, was seen by many as a provocative act—one that reignited painful memories and inflamed tensions between communities.
The events in Derry followed a wider pattern observed across Northern Ireland earlier in July, when hundreds of bonfires were lit in loyalist areas. Those festivities, too, saw the burning of flags, symbols, and effigies, underscoring how these rituals—once intended as communal celebrations—have become flashpoints for sectarian expression and, often, mutual antagonism.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland’s Executive, was quick to denounce the burning of flags and emblems. Speaking on social media on August 15, she declared, “There is no place for illegal, unregulated bonfires or the burning of flags and emblems, whether that’s today in Derry or what we witnessed across the North in July.” Her words echoed a growing frustration among political leaders who see the annual bonfire season as an impediment to peace and reconciliation. O’Neill added, “The overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland want a better future for their children and grandchildren, free from sectarianism and hate.”
Her condemnation was not limited to the events in Derry. O’Neill drew a direct line between the August bonfires and those that took place in July, highlighting a cycle of sectarian displays that, in her view, have no place in a society striving to move beyond its troubled past. “Derry is a city undergoing significant transformation, with the largest investment in its history agreed, totalling £300 million,” she noted. “This investment will create new jobs, transform community facilities, build more homes, support local businesses and deliver the expansion of Magee University. Derry is moving forward. Our island is moving forward. And I will continue to do everything I can to keep us moving forward to a future where every person and every community can thrive free from sectarianism.”
The symbolism of the items burned on the bonfires was not lost on observers. The union flag, representing British identity, and the poppy wreaths, commemorating British and Commonwealth military personnel killed in conflict, have long been contentious emblems in Northern Ireland’s divided society. Their destruction on nationalist bonfires is often perceived by unionists as a direct affront, while loyalist bonfires in July have similarly targeted Irish nationalist symbols. The inclusion of Israeli flags and images of international figures like Benjamin Netanyahu this year added an unexpected—and, for some, perplexing—global dimension to the local tensions.
Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson joined the chorus of criticism, calling for greater regulation to prevent what he described as “hateful displays.” In a statement quoted by Newsletter, Tennyson said, “Each year, we witness a repeated cycle of sectarianism, hate, and bigotry during bonfire season. The placing of flags and offensive materials on bonfires is utterly unacceptable. Those responsible only seek to intimidate and sow division in our communities.”
The tradition of lighting bonfires in August in Derry’s nationalist areas has deep roots. It is closely associated with the anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles—a policy that saw hundreds of people, mostly from the Catholic/nationalist community, detained without charge in the early 1970s. For many in the Bogside and Creggan, the bonfires are a form of cultural expression and remembrance. Yet, as the composition of the pyres has shifted to include more overtly political and provocative symbols, the events have become lightning rods for controversy.
In the weeks leading up to August 15, community leaders and local authorities had urged restraint. The hope, voiced by many, was that this year’s commemorations might pass without incident, reflecting Derry’s aspirations for renewal and reconciliation. After all, as O’Neill emphasized, the city is in the midst of historic transformation. The £300 million investment package she referenced is slated to deliver new jobs, upgrade community facilities, expand housing, and support the growth of Magee University—developments that promise to reshape Derry’s economic and social landscape.
Yet, the events of August 15 served as a stark reminder that progress is rarely linear. The bonfires drew crowds and media attention, but also prompted a wave of soul-searching about the legacy of sectarianism and the work that remains to be done. The fact that both nationalist and loyalist communities have, in recent months, used bonfires as platforms for symbolic acts of antagonism has led to renewed calls for dialogue, regulation, and, above all, empathy.
For many in Derry and across Northern Ireland, the question now is how to preserve cultural traditions without perpetuating division. Can bonfires become occasions for genuine community celebration, rather than vehicles for provocation? Or will they remain, as Tennyson fears, annual reminders of a cycle that is hard to break?
What is clear from this year’s events is that the debate over bonfires is far from settled. As Derry looks to the future—with its ambitious plans for investment and revitalization—its leaders and citizens must grapple with the challenge of honoring the past without being shackled by it. The hope, expressed by O’Neill and echoed by many, is for a city and a region where every community can thrive, free from the shadow of old animosities.
As the embers of the August bonfires cool, the real work—building trust, fostering understanding, and nurturing a shared vision for the future—continues, one conversation at a time.
