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Pics: Why was this intricate wooden temple deliberately burned to the ground in Derry?

And deliberately?

Temple
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  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson
  • Temple

    Source: Niall Carson/PA Wire
  • Temple

    Source: AP/Press Association Images

A TALL TEMPLE intricately carved out of wood by a renowned artist and volunteers was burned to the ground last night in Northern Ireland.

The sculpture, known simply as Temple, is by David Best, known for his work with the Burning Man Festival in the USA’s Nevada desert.

The 22-meter Temple opened this year, and visitors were invited to ‘bring messages, photographs or mementos to the structure’.

Burning Man Temple Niall Carson Niall Carson

A sign at the entrance advised visitors to ‘leave a memory behind, let go of the past’.

The sculpture attracted thousands of visitors, and many left messages behind.

And last night, it was set alight, watched by thousands of people.

Burning Man Temple Niall Carson / PA Wire Niall Carson / PA Wire / PA Wire

“We’re hoping that by building this temple across both communities that the ultimate burning can been seen in that light and that it will bring a very different meaning to the idea of a bonfire in Northern Ireland,” Helen Marriage, director of Artichoke, said previously.

Some people weren’t too keen on it, however. BBC News reports that a local Presbyterian Minister said the temple was ‘pagan’ and could “leave people open to the “influence of the occult and Satan”.

Read: Setting divisions alight: Burning Man comes to Derry >

More: Amazing drone footage shows the insanity of the Burning Man festival >

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29 Comments
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    Mute Noirin Lynch
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:08 PM

    A lovely idea which I’m sure brought comfort and closure to many of the thousands that were involved.
    Why not focus on that instead of one negative view. Fair play to all involved.

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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 11:38 AM

    And not a “fleg” in sight

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 11:40 AM

    Should change “some people” to “one person” (wasn’t too keen on it)

    Orr obviously completely missed the point.

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    Mute Kevin Anthony
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:52 PM

    A little closer with Calvary ..

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    Mute davedunne
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 6:17 PM

    Tap Lyons was spotted in the vicinity shouting something about G.Adams I do believe.

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:05 PM

    My first thought was that it was maliciously burned to the ground by some nationalist or unionist group until I read the article. As someone who lived most of his life near the border it’s sad that that is the first thing that springs to mind.

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    Mute ptriley
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 1:04 PM

    Presbyterian ministers are creepy creatures

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 11:56 AM

    Nothing surprises me in the North anymore, they are still fixated as they ever were by religion.
    Brainwashed Puritan morons telling people how to live their lives in the Twenty First century, the same as they did four hundred years ago.

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    Mute Tommy Whelan
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:13 PM

    Chris we Irish seem to think that a people in the north and people in the south are the same. There not they are completely different . A nationalists in the north has got more in common with a unionists then a nationalists down south . I work along side unionists and nationalists for twenty odd yrs and they are the same . The Northern Irish are the most decent people you can come across both nationalists and unionists .

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 3:31 PM

    Of course they are decent people Tommy, they are just living in the wrong century. Northern unionists and nationalists are born into their respective cults and expect everyone else to treat them differently from the rest of the people on this island of Ireland, or the rest of Britain for that matter.

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    Mute Paul
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 4:19 PM

    “we irish” seem to think nothing of the kind.Our so called northern brethren have brought nothing but shame and embarrassment on the name Ireland with their antics. I’d say most people in the south want nothing to do with them.

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    Mute Joseph Fitzpatrick
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 4:50 PM

    as in other countries people must stop teaching there children to hate then we might have a better world

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:11 PM

    Yeah right, as soon as you drive across the imaginary line between Donegal & Derry you’re dealing with a totally different people.

    Total nonsense

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    Mute Shane Lawless
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:08 PM

    This was done at the Electric Picnic in 2008 as well if I recall correctly. People left messages in the structure over the weekend and it was burned on the Sunday night.

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    Mute Bigus Diccus
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:33 PM

    Needs a few tyres.

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    Mute patjoejoe123
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:30 PM

    strange folk in londonderry

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:31 PM

    Folk off.

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    Mute Enya O'Neill
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 4:54 PM

    Clown. #patjoejoe123

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    Mute Paul
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 5:22 PM

    His not wrong,this is a city with a so called nationalist population and they can’t even get the name of the place changed.

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    Mute Demir Demiraslan
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 5:41 PM

    You know Paul, for someone who apparently thinks nothing of the North or the people there, you sure do have quite a lot to say about it.

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    Mute Vaibhav Borse
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 12:22 PM

    if people really liked it, they can always build a new one at some secure location, its never late for a good start..

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    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:30 PM

    Sounds a bit airy fairy to me to be honest.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 1:02 AM

    Wicker Man, comes to mind?

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    Mute Paul
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 6:04 PM

    just keeping real Dimeir,do you have anything actually interesting to add yourself,other than that sad statement

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    Mute Demir Demiraslan
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 6:29 PM

    Well I would like to add something actually relevant to the article, seeing as how people such as yourself have hijacked it with plenty of off-topic comments :).
    The temple was a nice little thing that brought many different people from Catholic, Protestant and other backgrounds together where they got to pay tribute to lost loves. The fact that there was not a single report of a disturbance shows it went well. I, unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to see it myself but judging from all the photos my friends added on facebook, it looked nice. If it ever occurs again in Derry or somewhere nearby like Belfast or Tyrone possibly, I would love to attend!

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    Mute Paul
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:20 PM

    I’ll have a chat with the scupture David,maybe he can pop round and build one in your backyard for ye. #yeneedtogetoutmore

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