Larne bonfire set for new world record in memory of fallen John Steele

 An attempt to set a new world bonfire record in Northern Ireland has gone ahead in memory of a man who died in a fall at a nearby pyre.

John Steele had been helping to build a 50ft bonfire in Antiville in Larne, Co Antrim, when he fell on Saturday.

It was dismantled on Sunday night as a mark of respect and a vigil was held for Mr Steele.

In any case a short distance away in Craigyhill within the town, a world record endeavor blaze went ahead. 

 James Brown, from the Craigyhill campfire committee, said they wrapped up building the structure on Sunday night.

 On Monday it was measured utilizing lasers and a ramble, and found to be 202.3ft high. 

 It has pulled in a awesome deal of attention with numerous people voyaging to see it. 

The current world record for the most noteworthy bonfire is 198ft, and was set in Lustenau, Austria, on Walk 16 2019. 

 Mr Brown explained they needed to bring the record to Northern Ireland, depicting it as the “home of the bonfire”.

 “We all sat around, the committee, and talked around the record set in Austria,” he told the PA news agency. 

“We thought Northern Ireland is the home of bonfires, so why isn’t that record here. So we decided to go for it, to try our best to set a new record.

“We fundraised for about 10 months, and after that went through two months building it.” 

 He said a parcel of extra thought and work was put into this year’s fire given the more prominent height. 

 “If you’ve seen it, you’ll see all the blue and ruddy pallets. They are a more grounded pallets, and take a part weight and pressure. That was key for us, to be secure and get the height.”

 A nearby company is to require estimations of the fire and issue a certificate which the blaze committee will send to the Guinness Book of Records for consideration.

Mr Brown said that following Saturday night’s tragedy, they spoke to Mr Steele’s family and were asked to proceed with the record attempt.

“Obviously it was a tragedy, something you never thought you would have heard close to home, our hearts go out to John’s family and close friends, and to the Antiville bonfire committee,” he said.

“Talking to the family, they wanted us to push on for the record in John’s memory so that gave us the determination to go ahead and smash the record for John – and that’s what we have done.”