The 12th of July is a national holiday in the North of Ireland, commemorating the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Orange Order (Protestant) holds parades, and in more militantly protestant areas, supporters build bonfires, burning effigies of Nationalist figures and Irish flags. Due to the intense political/religious climate, these demonstrations often lead to violence.
The 12th of July is a national holiday in the North of Ireland, commemorating the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Orange Order (Protestant) holds parades, and in more militantly protestant areas, supporters build bonfires, burning effigies of Nationalist figures and Irish flags. Due to the intense political/religious climate, these demonstrations often lead to violence.