Thousands were in attendance for the annual ‘Tenth Night’ Corcrain bonfire in Portadown on Thursday night.
It is traditionally one of the first bonfires set alight on July 10, rather than most others across Northern Ireland on the Eleventh Night.
Organisers set ablaze their structure – which stood in excess of 30 metres in height – at 11.30pm, which burned well into the 11th, signalling the beginning of the Twelfth festivities.
Firefighters were on hand and were deployed to hose down a number of nearby homes.
An effigy of Robert Lundy was burned atop the pyre – the Governor of Londonderry during the Siege of Derry, and who is viewed as a traitor within loyalism.
Speaking prior to the event, DUP Councillor Lavelle McIlwrath, said organisers have worked hard to build cross-community support for the project, have reduced its size to ease safety concerns and have banned political symbols from it.
Mr McIlwrath said the bonfire builders at Corcrain have been at pains to point out that “significant cross community work” has been undertaken by those behind the Loyalist Corcrain Redmanville (LCR) bonfire over the last few years.
“They also point out that LCR was one of the first bonfires groups in Northern Ireland to refrain from burning political posters, emblems and flags,” he said.
Elsewhere, the controversial Moygashel bonfire was also set alight on Thursday night.
Police, earlier on Thursday, said they were investigating the effigy of refugees and placards stating ‘Stop the boats’ as a “hate incident”.
