Upon my arrival back in Belfast after several days in Dublin, I had the unique opportunity of witnessing the festivities of the 12 of July, mainly celebrated the Protestant commnunities here to commorate the William of Orange's victory over the the Catholic James VII in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. While for the Protestants, this event serves as a self-affirmation of their cultural pride and UK roots, the Catholic communities see this as little more than a provocative reminder of their subjugation to English rule. As a result, it has not been uncommon for civil unrest to take place during this date.
Given the troubled history of this holiday, I was curious to check out the festivies for myself. While the parades that start off the day's activities have been greatly sanitized to appeal to a wider audience, some of the events, such the large bonfires attended by many drunken youths that sprout up throughout neighborhoods such as Annadale and the Shankhill, unfortunately still retain some of the intimidating atmosphere that has long characterized life in this city for both communities. Although efforts are currently being made to make the 12 of July more inclusive and family-friendly to all, it's quite clear that much more needs to be done before this can happen.
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