The Craigyhill bonfire builders have broken the world record for the largest ever pyre built, it has been confirmed.
The Larne bonfire builders set themselves the challenge this year of building the world's biggest ever bonfire of 198ft and are proud to have proven themselves up to the task.
After having it checked by a land survey firm, their bonfire reached a height of 202.37208ft, more than four feet more than the previous world record.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, the bonfire builders said that they were almost going to abandon their plans to beat the record due to the tragic death of Antiville bonfire builder John Steele on Saturday night. However at a late night meeting his mother and sister gave approval for them to carry on in his memory.
There are also plans to honour John prior to the lighting of the bonfire at midnight with a minute's applause.
Craigyhill bonfire builder David said: "After the tragedy at Antiville on Saturday breaking the record for the largest ever bonfire became a bit irrelevant to us with John's death bringing a lot of sadness to the entire community.
"We had a meeting at the weekend where we had pretty much decided that we were going to abandon it, but John's mum and sister came and spoke to us and said they wanted us to continue going for the record.
"We have had a land survey firm at the site today who have now confirmed to us that we have beaten the world record with our bonfire reaching 202.37208ft and we are very proud to have been able to do this.
"It has taken an awful lot of planning, hard work and fundraising to put this together and the last few days in particular have been very tough."
There are between 30 to 40 people who are involved in building the giant bonfire with work on the structure itself beginning in May.
Last year the Craigyhill builders reached a height of 147ft, which was considered to be the largest in Northern Ireland, but this year's structure has eclipsed that by 55ft.
David said that this will be the last year that the Craigyhill builders will attempt to build such a large structure with plans to downsize the bonfire next year.
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He continued: "This will be my last year involved with the bonfire as well as it being the last time that we are going to attempt to build a bonfire of this size and will be downsizing the pyre next year.
"We have been planning for this since last year and raised over £40,000 in order to make sure that we would be able to break the record and have not just the largest bonfire in Northern Ireland, but the world."
Following the confirmation that the bonfire had beaten the world record, the Craigyhill builders issued a statement on social media saying: "So the land survey firm has been down the last few hours measuring with lasers and a drone, taking measurements from three separate areas around the green of the bonfire.
"It was just confirmed there 15 minutes ago that the height is 202.37208 feet. Record breakers."
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