Happy July everyone. It looks like it is shaping up to be a really fabulous one for all of us who love nothing more than expressing ourselves through the medium of raging towering infernos.

Honestly, for those of us who are total strangers to health, safety, healing and normality, it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Bonfire season kicked off strong with a sodden Dundonald double-bed mattress bearing the slogan ‘all taigs will be crucified’ appearing alongside other vulgar and racist slurs.

In Belfast, folks were building their pyre beside a large pile of material that was believed to be contaminated with asbestos.

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Health and safety boffins – who tend to all go on holiday at this time of year – would tell you that lighting a fire beside asbestos is an extremely bad idea.

They would also say that even without asbestos, bonfires release harmful pollutants into the air, including fine particulate matter and other toxins, which can exacerbate respiratory and........

© The Irish News