Northern Ireland

Féile hails Dance Night a success in preventing anti-internment bonfires, as fire service confirms no call-outs

Thousands of people attended the Dance Night event which featured international DJs and local talent.
Thousands of people attended the Dance Night event which featured international DJs and local talent.

The NI Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed it was not called to attend bonfires in west Belfast.

Organisers of the Féile an Phobail festival hailed their dance night event as a success in deterring youths away from anti-internment blazes in the area.

A spokesperson for Féile said in a social media post yesterday that the free dance night event in Falls Park, attended by thousands and featuring top DJs and electronic music acts, helped deter young people from bonfires that have led to destruction and anti-social behaviour in previous years.

Last August, police officers in riot gear were attacked with bottles and other missiles while assisting contractors in the removal of bonfire material in the Distillery Street area.

In previous years, bonfires marking internment without trial, which was introduced in the north in August 1971, were numerous across nationalist and republican areas of the city on August 8, but campaigns by locals and community workers to prevent them taking place has seen the number of pyres vastly reduced.

Billed as 'Ireland's Biggest Free Dance Night', the event featured performances by acts including Eddie Halliwell, Darren Styles and Mauro Picotto.

Tickets to the event, which were reserved for free in advance, were also offered to youngsters who attended a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinic in Falls Park.

"Last night the big bonfires that caused destruction in communities on 8th August in recent years didn’t happen," the Féile spokesperson said.

"Instead, Féile along with community & youth organisations & political reps made Féile Dance Night happen. Thank you to our young people. You were superb!"

A spokesperson for the NIFRS confirmed to the Irish News that there were no call-outs to bonfires anywhere in the west Belfast area on Sunday night.