The builders of a new castle bonfire in Portadown have revealed what has inspired their unique design.
The Corcrain and Redmanville bonfire builders have come up with a new style of pyre for July 8, which they believe will provide a safer night for all in attendance while also giving them something that they have never seen before.
Last year their bonfire was 280 pallets high, however they felt that building bonfires to such a height was becoming untenable due to the dangers it could pose to the community.
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Following meetings with local residents and the council, the builders developed the castle bonfire which they hope will show off the positives of their culture and heritage across the world.
They also agreed to light the bonfire on Friday, July 8, as July 10, is on a Sunday and the community felt that it would be better to hold the celebration a few days earlier.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Andre Austin said: "Last year we had a huge bonfire that was 280 pallets high and this was beginning to cause some concern in the local community due to the dangers that it could pose to people, especially with the added risk of collapse.
"We felt that reducing the height of the structure was the best thing that we could do and instead of trying to build the biggest bonfire in Northern Ireland and competing with the likes of Ballycraigy and Craigyhill, we have decided to do something completely different and build a bonfire that nobody has ever seen before.
"The idea for the castle bonfire came from our celebrations last year being called a Disney Land of Ulster, and we felt that if people are going to say that then we need to give them a castle.
"Over the past few years we have done a lot in order to get rid of the negative things that can be associated with bonfires and are looking to promote all that is positive about our heritage and culture."
Andre said that the bonfire builders have been collecting for the pyre since winter last year and there has been a real community effort in putting everything together.
He said: "There are 10 adults who oversee the bonfire each year and the rest who help out are young ones and teenagers, so everyone is able to get involved.
"Over the past year we have all been out gathering pallets and getting everything prepared and ready with the first pallets going on the site in the second week of April.
"We don't have the manpower that some other bonfires will have, but I doubt that there will be anywhere that has built anything quite like ours this year."
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