{"id":26723,"date":"2022-07-11T11:10:43","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26723"},"modified":"2022-07-11T11:10:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:10:46","slug":"bonfire-in-larne-aims-to-set-new-world-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26723","title":{"rendered":"Bonfire In Larne Aims To Set New World Record"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The pyre at Craigyhill in Larne, Co Antrim, should overtake the current tallest record of 198ft set in Austria in 2019 (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An attempt to set a new world bonfire record in Co Antrim has gone ahead in memory of a man who died in a fall at a nearby pyre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Steele had been helping to build a 50ft bonfire in Antiville in Larne when he fell on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was dismantled on Sunday night as a mark of respect and a vigil was held for Mr Steele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a short distance away in Craigyhill in the town, a world record attempt bonfire went ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Brown, from the Craigyhill bonfire committee, said they finished building the structure on Sunday night, adding it is around 220ft (67 metres) tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current world record for the highest bonfire is 198ft, and was set in Lustenau, Austria, on March 16th, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Brown explained they wanted to bring the record to Northern Ireland, describing it as the \u201chome of the bonfire\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe all sat around, the committee, and talked about the record set in Austria,\u201d he told the PA news agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe thought Northern Ireland is the home of bonfires, so why isn\u2019t that record here. So we decided to go for it, to try our best to set a new record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe fundraised for nearly 10 months, and then spent two months building it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said a lot of additional thought and work was put into this year\u2019s pyre given the greater height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019ve seen it, you\u2019ll see all the blue and red palettes. They are a stronger palette, and take a lot more weight and pressure. That was key for us, to be safe and get the height.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A local company is to take measurements of the pyre and issue a certificate which the bonfire committee will send to the Guinness Book of Records for consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Brown said that following Saturday night\u2019s tragedy, they spoke to Mr Steele\u2019s family and were asked to proceed with the record attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously it was a tragedy, something you never thought you would have heard close to home, our hearts go out to John\u2019s family and close friends, and to the Antiville bonfire committee,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTalking to the family, they wanted us to push on for the record in John\u2019s memory so that gave us the determination to go ahead and smash the record for John \u2013 and that\u2019s what we have done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twelfth commemorations in Northern Ireland mark the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.<\/p>\n

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