Fireworks fired from Mellieha Church in spectacular show
Small fireworks were fired from Mellieha Church in a synchronised show with ground fireworks and music to mark the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady last week.
The show was well received. (Footage of Josef Cauchi)
Meanwhile, the first funeral for the Gharb fireworks factory explosion will be held today. The funeral of Jean Pierre Azzopardi will be held at 5.30 p.m. at Xewkija while the other victims - Nenu Farrugia, his sons Noel and Raymond, daughter-in-law Antoinette and son-in-law Peter Paul Micallef will have a joint funeral at Fontana church tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. There will be a cortege before each funeral.
Advert
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
Advert
49 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Dave Camilleri
Sep 1st 2011, 12:19
It was a great show, but unfortunately it is marred by those ridiculous powerful explosions that happen. What the hell is up with that? Why not have normal fireworks, and a great colour display? Do you have to scare the hell out of little children as well? I also feel sorry for all the poor people who have to put up with the mindless constant ringing of those annoying church bells. If you want to keep tradition fine, but must you play the bells so many times and so loudly? Even during non-festival periods, they ring at all hours of the night. You are rudely awakened by close to 30 chimes very early in the morning. Mellieha is such a beautiful and peaceful place, but ruined by constant bell ringing.
Leif Nielsen
Sep 16th 2010, 18:56
Fireworks is always beatiful, but dangerous for the firework workers always - Copenhagen
J. Vella
Sep 16th 2010, 00:30
Has anyone given serious consideration to the historic building? The fireworks constitute a safety hazard just by being stored on the roof. And what about safety to the structural integrity of the building? Surely the roofs (domes, barrel vaults, deffun, etc.) of our churches weren't designed to withstand the impacts created by the letting of fireworks?
S. Camilleri
Sep 16th 2010, 17:31
impact?! what impact?! the fireworks used in this kind of display are stoppini.....and the chances of causing any damages is very very minimal. In fact, no accidents have ever been reported using this kind of display (someone correct me if I'm wrong)...
J.
Sep 17th 2010, 00:02
@ S.camilleri Impact? How about Newton's second and third laws of motion? Thank heavens accidents of the sort have never happened - but are you suggesting we should tempt fate? What about the storage of fireworks on the roof of a public building? And who ever said settlement cracks (konsenturi) occur overnight? What about creep - the proverbial 'garra, gejja w sejra', and the possibility that the show gets bigger and better year-in year-out? Of course, it would be easier to attribute such damage to shoddy foundations.
Frans Cassar
Sep 15th 2010, 13:32
Prosit, very nice show. Keep it up.
Just for the information, St Cathrine Fireworks Factory in Zurrieq have been doing this kind of show for the last 10 years with great success. There is one particular difference though, at Zurrieq the music is played live by the same society's Band and fireworks are not computerized but fired manually through a switchboard by a person who is capable of reading musical notes. You can search performances at Youtube.
Anyways, once again prosit tal-Mellieha
S. Camilleri
Sep 16th 2010, 17:28
bid-differenza li fiz-Zurrieq bilkemm ikun hemm nofs l-ammont ta nar li sparaw dawn!!! prosit kbira mellihin!!! bellahtuni...
joe vella caruana
Sep 15th 2010, 09:01
Well done to all our firework artists at Mellieha. The show was really magnificent, picturesque, neat and as safe as possible. Lets maintain such work in the future as a praise to God ( see ST.Paul's comment that all we do and offered to God is a prayer and thanks).and a spectacular show for all parishioners and guests. Well done again keep it up.
I Azzopardi
Sep 14th 2010, 23:06
I think this makes perfect sense, the real feast is within the church no? So why not make the church the center of the feast?
David Grech
Sep 14th 2010, 23:03
A spectacular event that reminded me of the Euro Disney night parades and shows done before the castle of Sleeping Beauty! Only in this case it was the house of God. Quite profane I feel especially the disco lights and music. Another location should have been chosen for such an amazing show.
Alfred Grech
Sep 14th 2010, 16:17
Very very beautiful indeed. Prosit Melliehin.
A. Borg
Sep 14th 2010, 15:34
Well done to all who organized and worked for this event... It's very well synchronized!!! Its insensitve and unprofessional to tie this event with the Gharb victims funerals... the 2 do not go together... stop this brainwash against feasts and fireworks and anything related to Maltese culture as if we Maltese are second class citizens in OUR OWN COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!
Joseph Calleja
Sep 14th 2010, 15:11
First of all to the Mellieha fireworks. That was AWESOME, SPECTACULAR. I would suggest do away with the ground fireworks ( cikcivogu ) altogether and stick to the fireworks and the synchronized music. Congratulations to all those involved.What a show!
To the negative commentators, I say grow up. The Mellieha fireworks had nothing to do with the tragic death of the Gozo tragedy. It is fine for you to dislike fireworks but don't undermine somebody else's success, shame on you. So because there is a plane crash you are saying no more flights? If there is a car crash, no more driving etc etc. What a couple of losers.
Our sympathies go to the families and friends of the deceased and I am sure they would appreciate these videos as much as we did. I agree that there has to be better supervision of the making and storage of fireworks but don't condemn all fireworks, like you cannot condemn all driving because of a traffic fatality. I am sure you are still driving even though these accidents happen.
Thank you Mr Cauchi and Ivan Vella for sharing these videos. AWESOME
Joseph Calleja
Sep 14th 2010, 17:48
Also many thanks and appreciation Norbert Vella
Matthew Cutajar
Sep 14th 2010, 14:39
Prosit lil kumitat tan nar kollu.. specjalment lil shabi Carl caruana u l Kugin david Bartolo.. J alla jibqa jkollna festa hekk mimlija GHAQDA... VMB
Victor Borg
Sep 14th 2010, 13:55
There are a small minority of people who want to ban fireworks. These people are unable to see how artistic fireworks are, and instead think that art is the abstract art or conceptual art that is not home-grown, but simply copied from other societies. Only in fireworks has Malta carved out a stylistic subgenre of artistic expression - ie, the Maltese style of fireworks is uniquely different than fireworks made elsewhere, and not only different but the best in the world.
Sure, not all fireworks-makers are true artists. Some have a cowboy mentality, and some that blow themselves up only have themselves to blame for doing things they shouldn't do. But don't let the few cowboys tarnish the reputation of the true pyrotechnic artists that make the Maltese nation so proud and also grace our skies with beautiful art.
I hope the investigation about the Gharb incident becomes a no-holds-barred investigation, so that the rumours that one of the people who was there tried to do something very stupid - and hence triggered the explosion - is either proved or disproved. Let's weed out the cowboys, and let's support the true artists.
George Debono
Sep 15th 2010, 01:44
Victor, i agree with you
...except for the comment
There are a small minority of people who want to ban fireworks. - this is incorrect
Most people HATE murtali and it is these theywaoul like to see banned.
I agree that colourful fireworks are beautiful and also "artisitc" if you like.
But murtali are horrid, they terrify babies and household pets and are totally mindless - just useless noise. When my son was an infant we used to have t leav st Julains because of the murtall which terrorised him.
G
Mark J. Magri
Sep 14th 2010, 13:35
How beautiful it was......!!!
I recommend all the local councils of Malta and Gozo to follow this example and start to
celebrate a likewise occasion in all the parishes even during wintertime if weather permits,
Hats off for the Mellieha parishiners.
GRANPINTO
Hamrun.
j. sammut
Sep 14th 2010, 13:17
well done to the mellieha fireworks group.. specially to my friend carl caruana and all the others. f. farriuga tippruvax tamila ta nisrani tajjeb.. jekk hu hekk Gesu qalilna biex insebhu t tempju tieghu bir ragunar tighek
victor vella
Sep 14th 2010, 12:50
First and formeost a big well done to those involved, it was awesome , the stuff of champions.this goes to show that the sacrifices made by those who are injured or giove thier life due to fireworks are artists who pay with thier life for our enjoyment.God bless them all.
Secondly Franco Farrugia, the display was on the external side of the church and no blasphemy was done.It is not the building that we adore but the resident withen it.So please stop being negative and start enjoying life by being a positive person.
Once again thank you to those who made this display possible.BTW I am not from Mellieha and have no connection with the organisers.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 14th 2010, 12:35
Is this what churches should be used for? Despicable! A church is supposed to be a holy place - a place of worship. Kemm isawwatkom Kristu, kieku kellu jerga' jigi!
J Aquilina
Sep 14th 2010, 13:08
Dear Franco,
When are we going to go online and hear something positive from you. You always comment on whatever goes online, and it is always amazing how quickly you are always ready to comment negatively.
John Zammit
Sep 14th 2010, 14:32
how pathetic you are. that was a show and I am so angry that I missed it. IT showed that there was no bangs no serious danger. I hope that many will follow this style . Spectacular and safe. Do we have to rock everywhere with booms and bangs? This is what a show should look like and I hope many parishes will follow this example of joy and splendour. Very stylish and elegant. PROSIT
C.Busuttil
Sep 14th 2010, 14:49
Stop playing God
If Christ came back he would give you a copy in which you would have to write for a thousand times "I Shall Not judge others, if I don't want to be judged"
Besides, When the facade of the Vatican (not the Mellieha Parish) was restored a ceremony was held in which fireworks happened to be let off from the top of the Basilica in the presence of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, remember the guy people wanted "Santo Subito". Well that Holy man found nothing wrong in fireworks being let off, there is NO franco farrugia that can lecture him on what should be and what should not.
Toni valletta
Sep 14th 2010, 15:24
Franco, look at the beauty side of life you sound like a miserable and desperate person always negative.Life is beautiful enjoy it..
Franco Farrugia
Sep 14th 2010, 18:47
@ Toni Valletta: Oh yes, right! Go and say what you have just said to me to the victims of fireworks and their relatives!! You will be surprised at what kind of life I lead. However, facts remain facts and the building of a church is not to be used for such shows! Now you can try shooting me down as much as you wish - it doesn't bother me in the least, but as I said: facts are facts!
C.Busuttil
Sep 14th 2010, 19:02
The Pope found nothing wrong when Fireworks where let off from the top of the Vatican Basilica Facts are Facts Sur Farrugia Besides you are NO authority compared to the Pope especially one as John Paul II. When speaking about the church and Christ don't forget what you conveniently easily forget DON'T JUDGE OTHERS PS- Rest assured that the victims if they had a chance to be born again they would go and work fireworks again. Even those who have suffered injury return to their factories no matter what
F Cutajar
Sep 16th 2010, 22:16
Sur Farugia jek taqbez qabza sa Sqallija nahseb tibdel fehmtek ta ax ek jamlu. Anzi hafna aktar min ekk!!! prosit mellieha!!!
Johnny Xerri
Sep 17th 2010, 08:16
Franco your own words depict what a sad cuase your arguments have, "Kemm isawwatkom Kristu, kieku kellu jerga' jigi!" What would you know of how our Lord would react? Very arogant to say the least to judge not only your fellow citizens but how our Lord would react. Secondly you would better be worried about how our Lord would react to someone who openly wrote that he would give a lesson in good manners to a warden without the need of police or MUT intervention. Good on the Mellieha fireworks enthusiasts, not only have they kept the tradition of firework manufacturing alive, but they have also updated on some of their displays.
Chris Ebejer
Sep 14th 2010, 12:05
J Scerri,
By your reasoning those who buy any appliances that work out with electricity are all responsible for all the electric deaths caused by these appliances. ...............u ejja ma nkunux banali tridx!
PACIFICO GALEA
Sep 14th 2010, 11:40
Naqbel perfettament ma li qalu certa kumentaturi ghal dan is sugett. gil fatt fil mosta ma naghtax dan il permess f 2009 meta f hafna postijiet ghamlu dawn it tip ta shoes min fuq bjut ta kazini f irhula differenti imma ahna il mostin gejn mcahda min dan. Issa nigi ghal li qal is Sur J scerri min jigi jara wirjiet spetakolari li naghmlu ahna il piroteknici ghax ikunu tajbin u mhumiex jaghlu reklamar ghad demm li jixerede fxi accident. Ahna li nahdmu in nar immorru ghax irridu mhux ghax irrudni in nies bhal ma qed tiprova titfa il htija int fuq kull min ihobb il piroteknika. jekk ma jogbok tmurx tara wirjiet spetakolari imma lil hadd iehor tindahalux xjaghmel u ma jaghmilx. intix xi wiehed min dawk li tipridka i liberta tal espressioni imbad tohrog tajat biex tikamanda li hadd iehor. Halina nghixu siehbi u toqodx idejaq nies
jscerri
Sep 14th 2010, 10:41
To all those who saw this show live: by attending such events you are promoting, encouraging and creating the market for fireworks. You are all responsible for the deaths past, present and future, you all have blood on your hands...shame on you.
Brendon vella
Sep 14th 2010, 11:15
Agree with you 100%. Whilst families mourn their death and prepare for their funeral, the perople of Mellieha celebrate with fireworks. A brief moratorium should have been held, at least until the bereaved families bury their death, Shame on whoever organised this event.
Norbert Vella
Sep 14th 2010, 11:29
As you are saying i am responsible for the deaths of all Formula 1 drivers, past, present and future ones (Hopefully not) because I am paying the Sports channel to watch the races live on TV, and without my money and others people money they can stop. Hallina Sur J. Scerri
Justin Bartolo
Sep 14th 2010, 11:56
@jscerri
Sorry to say but I don`t agree with you at all.
I agree 100% with the fact that there should be more awarness and saftey meusures must be reinforced by the authorities.
but I don`t agree at all that fireworks should stop. They make our fiests unique and as a small country as ours this will be a very bad impact for our tourism...
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY TOURISTS COME EACH YEAR TO ATTENT TO OUR FIESTS....
AND AGAIN.... MORE PRECOUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO STOP THIS DEADLY SPREE..
SO AUTHORITIES PLEASE WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING REALISTIC !
Justin Bartolo
Sep 14th 2010, 11:57
WELL DONE MELLIEHA ........
IMPRESSIVE SHOW :)
G.Portelli
Sep 14th 2010, 12:03
Utterly stupid comment.
Don't you know that people can die at their place of work? How many times have we heard that construction workers have died while building or plasterers while doing their work? Should all building stop or all plastering stop? According to your reasoning I should not plaster my house because a person died some months/years ago and i'll be responsible for his death.
Those who want to work fireworks let them do so. It is their business and not yours or mine. By attending for fireworks shows we are giving thanks to people who make great sacrifices normally for the enjoyment of others without any remuneration. How can you be so insensitive? Accidents do happen and that's that.
C.Busuttil
Sep 14th 2010, 15:07
@J Scerri
Abroad the kind of fireworks let off by the Mellieha Parish you can buy them over the counter or they can be delivered to your home.
Fireworks are held all over the world, ever heard about the 4th of July in the USA or Guy Fawkes Day in the UK to mention some. Nobody does your stupid reasoning. People who work fireworks know the risk. I used to work fireworks and I stopped not because of fear but due to other circumstances. I hope to start again in the near future and no accident actually deters me from doing so. From my experience the latest accidents have nothing to do with the manufacturing since its not related to the chemicals or wrong procedures but from other circumstances.
People like you should refrain from making judgements especially on a subject that you have NO idea about.
The only one to be ashamed should be yourself. I hope you have the same guilty feelings when you use a car (private or public) which poisons the air, which is the cause of various illness.
Hallina Tridx u jekk ghandek tishi l-ewwel wiehed huwa INT
Johann Aquilina
Sep 16th 2010, 22:23
Well done Mellieha Firework Group. It was the biggest show on the island during this year. @Jscerri. You don't know how to speak with your mouth but with...... Stay at home and don't do noting maybe like that you blood on your hands for nothing.
Chris Grech
Sep 14th 2010, 10:09
I fully agree with the saftey measures taken! One could also notice that the first 2 fireworks pieces were not lit up, due to the new rule of the 30 meters.
it was another case in Mosta, since the permit was not issued because THEY did not want to issue it in teh first place... that's the point...
I Fully support this idea, since it is a great attraction, in all localities, but Sorry to say that they do not allow US in our locality.
it's a pity after the success we had in 2007 and 2008!!
Phil Humphries
Sep 14th 2010, 10:01
Fantastic ! What brilliant timing. - This was so well synchronised that it seemed as if the fireworks team were playing musical instruments. - Prosit Mellieha.
A Zahra
Sep 14th 2010, 09:55
I was there and it was really nice. The law allows for such diplays to be carried on from roofs subject to limitations of effect diameters and a safety margin from the audience.
May I please point out that the organisers and the police did a fine job in containing the crowd within the safety margins and where so disciplined that one ground firework was not fired because due to overcrowding the distance from it was not within that required by the insurance policy. That's what you call discipline.
By the way the display was fired using Pyromaster a digital firing system designed and built in Malta following five years of research and an investment in excess of 25K Euro by a group of local voluntary professionals cause we are not "dilettanti".
Norbert Vella
Sep 14th 2010, 09:54
I was there and it was a really good show. The synchronisation with the music was perfect. Well done to the Mellieha Fireworks group for the great show. Also well done to David Bartolo and his friend who worked on a new ground fireworks piece that worked perfectly.
@Chris Grech: If you were there you have noticed that people where 30 meters away from the first fireworks piece that was in the square, therefore i don't see why the police should not issue the permit to do this spectular show from Mellieha Church
Norbert Vella
Sep 14th 2010, 10:09
If any body wants to see all the ground fireworks show, you can visit the Official Website of the Imperial Band Club on http://www.imperialbandclub.com/videos.asp and click on Ground Fireworks - (7th September 2010)
Have fun
T Abela
Sep 14th 2010, 09:29
I was also done in Balzan last year and this year.. Nice show there too.
C. Farrugia
Sep 14th 2010, 09:26
I find it really insensitive reporting both events in the same article...... I truly hope no members of the deceased's family, immediate or otherwise, get to see this.
a pulis
Sep 14th 2010, 10:55
Il-wirja kienet waħda stupenda. Prosit! Ħabib hemm strateġija. Anke meta jkun sabiħ, irridu nfakkru fil-kruha tan-nar.
C. Farrugia
Sep 14th 2010, 12:00
I was not trying to take away from the *spectacularity* of the show, even though I wasn't there: Yet, it shows that you have clearly missed my point. All I said was that I find it insensitive to *connect* both events in the same article, out of empathy to the relatives of the dead. Details of the funeral right after the praise for something which took away the life of 6, comes across as a mocking, and putting-salt-in-the-wound, piece of information!
I for one, have completely gone off fireworks and anything that has to do with them after the lastest tragedy. Can anyone imagine having all the male members of your immediate family wiped out, plus a sister-in-law, daughter and aunt who just happened to be there by chance?
But then again, fireworks enthusiasts would clearly not give a hoot.....
Chris Grech
Sep 14th 2010, 09:06
i was there. it was a good show.
i was there last year, and they did it as well....
So it's not the first time...
At Mosta it was done in 2007 and 2008 from a private house, but the police did not issue a permit for the 2009 feast !!
fejn iva u fejn le hux :S
il-ligi ma hix l-istess ghal kulhadd...