Derry bonfires - Community festivals the positive way forward: Hassan
Community festivals the positive way forward: Hassan
Community festivals are “the positive way forward” in celebrating the 15th of August other than bonfires, Derry Sinn Cllr Tony Hassan has said.
Cllr Hassan was speaking as his party colleague on Derry City and Strabane District Councillor Kevin Campbell called on the council to ban all bonfires.
It follows the weekend burning of bonfires in the Bogside and Creggan areas of Derry which are being investigating by police as possible hate crimes following the burning of a poppy memorial wreath and symbols, including Union flags and the effigies of British soldiers.
Congratulating the organisers on the success off all the festivals held in the greater Shantallow area of the city where there were no bonfires, Cllr Hassan called on the Derry-Strabane council to provide additional funding for such groups.
Cllr Hassan said: “I would like to commend everyone involved in making this year’s community festivals a great success. For the first time in many years the area was free from bonfires.
“It was good to see the hundreds of young children and parent’s attending or taking part in these excellent events.
“The organisers of these festivals and the many volunteers who helped out behind the scenes must be applauded for their sterling work over this past week.
“What these festivals have proven is that there is other ways to celebrate the 15th of August other than bonfires' which makes a mess of our areas.”
Cllr Hassan concluded: “I would call on Derry City and Strabane District council to have a look at providing additional funding for Festivals to community groups in the greater Shantallow area and the wider city in general as this year has proved that there is an alternative to the negative custom of bonfires.”
Photo shows Mayor Cllr Elisha McCallion Sophie Louise Dalton, Cirsha McCleary and Chelsea Hegarty at Friends of St. Brigid's College - Alternative Bonfire Event. (Photo - Deirdre Heaney, nwpresspics)