Analysis: Annual August bonfire is a battle for Derry's Bogside

The bonfire issue in Derry’s Bogside has become a battleground between dissident republicans and Sinn Féin who in the past traditionally 'owned' the Bog.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP have attempted for a number of years to move away from the traditional August 15 and internment anniversary bonfire. Community workers developed the Gasyard Féile to provide an alternative for young people.

However, a small group of teenagers has remained untouched by their efforts. They quite clearly oppose Sinn Féin and the SDLP; they also quite clearly support dissident republicans. Last year, it was only when dissident republicans intervened that they moved a bonfire from the middle of a main Bogside road to a nearby green area.

In the Bogside the annual August bonfire has become one of those issues where the two sides meet head-on.

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However, this year that appeared to be different. On the ground, there was no apparent input by dissidents. Wednesday night’s bonfire was smaller and could have passed off with minimal problem until the names of murdered police and prison officers were placed on the pyre.

The rationale put forward by those behind Wednesday’s decision to include victims’ names was that the other side (loyalists) do it; it was the old whataboutery justification.

On Wednesday night thousands of people turned out to watch the bonfire. It was quite clear that the majority found the naming of victims distasteful as they privately condemned it to reporters.

But the fact that such huge crowds turned out showed there is still much work to be done if Derry is to abandon the traditional August bonfire completely.

It is also clear that the burning of offensive material - whether that be a murdered police officer’s name or a coffin bearing the image of Martin McGuinness – will only be stopped if leaders persuade the call to abandon the practice on both sides.