When I was growing up in Andersonstown in the 1970s and 1980s, this time of year - the anniversary of internment - always brought an extra layer of tension into an atmosphere that was already troubles-fuelled.
The approach of August 9 meant the banging of bin lids, rioting, marches and, yes, the burning of bonfires. It also meant solders on the streets. Confrontation was almost inevitable, and in some cases actively sought out. At the time, to us kids, this was just normality. It happened all year round and in August the tension was always ramped up.
Slowly the additional tension at that time began to dissipate, around the same time that Féile an Phobail, the West Belfast Festival, was first organised. The emergence of Féile in 1988 may not have directly or solely led to an improvement in the August atmosphere but there is no question it had a positive impact.
My own first memory of Féile is cloudy but involved Brian Kennedy performing in the Beehive bar. I recall going to the open air concerts in the old Beechmount leisure centre and over the years I have always made a point of going to some of the events which take place throughout the festival and that includes this year.
Last year was the 30th anniversary of the festival, by now billed as the ‘biggest community festival in Ireland’ and Féile has certainly come a long way from concerts in pubs and speeches on the back of lorries. Now the festival is supported by a range of statutory bodies and a myriad of private sector businesses too.
That milestone anniversary Féile last year was widely regarded to be practically untouchable in terms of quantity and quality of events, and then the organisers, led by Kevin Gamble and Harry Connolly, simply doubled down, pulled out all the stops you can imagine and this weekend past saw the conclusion of the most celebrated, attended and supported Féile to date.
The range of events - from championship boxing, sold-out concerts by boy bands and musical legends to political debates involving An Taoiseach among other political leaders - it was an incredible nine days or so. The organisers deserve huge credit.
I attended a number of Féile events. Now boxing is not my main sport, not by a long way, but I was keen to see how the Michael Conlan fight and the under-card would be staged in the Falls Park. I went and was almost overwhelmed by the whole experience. It was an absolutely professional event, every element was delivered with efficiency and good humour, with the most passionate atmosphere ever witnessed for a local sporting event.
The fights were broadcast live across the world and it was actually hard to take in that we were in the Falls Park, where I previously have been used to going to play gaelic football matches or to take part in the weekly Falls park run. The event was an undiluted triumph.
The five-mile run along the Falls and Andersonstown Roads the next morning was terrific too; well supported and delivered in conjunction with local running club the West Belfast Coolers. While the events are professionally delivered they still rely on and remain umbilically linked to the west Belfast area and community.
The political debates and talks I managed to take in were packed. The appetite for political discourse is high in our city and that is a positive. There's an undoubted economic spin off too, the number of tourists in west Belfast last week was striking and many had planned their visit to coincide with the Festival.
On the night of August 8, some10,000 young people packed into the dance night in Falls Park, the (free) tickets having been snapped up a month previously. Across Belfast, another group of young people were living in the past, determined that the old tradition of a bonfire would be carried on, against the expressed wishes of the rest of the New Lodge community.
It felt at times like looking at news footage from decades ago; the police drawn into confrontation, local people trapped in their homes or indeed advised to move out and kids who were born long after internment and long after the ceasefires, defying those political and community representatives who sought a peaceful resolution of a difficult situation.
The bonfire issue remains one which has the potential to derail progress in Belfast every summer. Whether it's in Avoniel in east Belfast in July or in New Lodge, Newry or Derry in August, these old traditions are used to spread antagonism, to mark territory and to inflame community tensions.
That is the opposite of what went on in west Belfast throughout the Féile, where the doors were open to anyone and everyone; where DUP and UUP politicians were applauded to their seats, Jamie Bryson addressed an event from the floor and was heard politely and welcomed warmly.
The number of people gathered around the bonfire in New Lodge probably numbered in the hundreds, with the hardcore maybe a few dozen. There were 10,000 dancing the night away in Falls Park. The young people have decided how they want to spend their hot August nights. The Féile offers a better way forward.
:: Brendan Mulgrew (brendan.mulgrew@mwadvocate.com) is managing partner at MW Advocate (www.mwadvocate.com). Follow him on Twitter @brendanbelfast
:: Next week: Paul McErlean
