Young people in Belfast say 'tension is growing again'

By Declan Harvey
Newsbeat reporter in Belfast

Young Republicans in Belfast say emotions are running high ahead of this year's 12 July celebrations.

Over the coming days Loyalists will parade and light bonfires to celebrate British rule in Northern Ireland, something republicans want to see end.

Some admit they are "in a fighting mood" especially after one Republican leader, Martin McGuinness, shook the Queen's hand two weeks ago.

The police say they are preparing an "appropriate" strategy.

Community groups are calling for calm.

It often gets tense in Northern Ireland at this time of year as the Protestant Orange order holds a series of events.

In the past, including last year, there have been riots.

'Peace wall'

At midnight tonight (11 July) enormous bonfires will be lit with several in the Shankill area of west Belfast.

They can be up to six stories high, take weeks to build and days to burn.

Aaron, 26, is in charge of a group of around 38 young people who have been working for eight weeks building a bonfire on Conway Street, West Belfast.

They've used thousands of wooden pallets.

He said: "It's part of our culture. We've spent about £2,000 on it already. Thousands of people will be down to see it. There'll be a local band and a burger van."

Aaron is planning to burn a Tricolour flag on top of the bonfire. It's the green, white and orange flag Republicans use.

Both sides live very close to each other and are only separated by a 13m (42ft) high "peace wall".

The wall has metal gates which close automatically each night between 10pm-7am.

People in the area like them because it stops either side attacking each other.

The troubles

Gerard, 20, lives on the other side of the wall, The Falls Road, and says he hates the bonfires.

"It's what happens at them," he said. "They have their sectarian banners out. On many occasions they have a show of strength, like shooting guns."

This peace wall separates the Shankill and Falls roads and is half a mile long

Darren is 17 and said: "Coming up to the 12th you get a wee bit of fighting mood in you and you wanna go lob a few bricks and petrol bombs, just to show you support the green white and orange flag.

"There's more tension than there was last year because of Martin McGuinness shaking the Queen's hand."

Some Republican areas light bonfires in August.

They commemorate the imprisonment of Republican activists during the troubles, the 30 years of violence which ended in a peace agreement in 1998.

Although most people in Northern Ireland live peacefully side by side, there are still several areas where a new young generation have inherited the views of their parents.