08/02/2010

Fire Breaks Out In Heritage Site

An investigation has been launched into a fire that could have destroyed one of Ireland's most prized heritage sites.

The 18th-century State-owned property, Russborough House, in Blessington - which has an extensive art collection, is undergoing an extensive clean up operation today after a fire broke out on the site last night.

Gardaí in Co Wicklow have begun an investigation into the incident.

The alarm was raised at about 9pm, and as many as eight units of the fire brigade worked for some three hours to bring the fire under control.

The west wing of the building is extensively damaged, and it is understood part of the roof collapsed.

Russborough House was recently included in a list of endangered heritage sites alongside the likes of Machu Pichu in Peru and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

The house was designed by Richard Cassells and was donated to the State in 1978 by owners Sir Alfred and Lady Beit. The house is open to the public and is managed by the Alfred Beit Foundation.

(DW/GK)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

09 November 2015
Two Arrested Following Attack And House Fire In Co Offaly
Two people have been arrested in connection with an attack and a house fire in Co Offaly in September. A 17-year-old boy and a 27-year-old man were arrested in Westmeath and Offaly on Monday, after a 24-year-old man was attacked and a house set on fire in Rhode. The man sustained extensive burn injuries and also had many stab wounds.
21 April 2010
Three Die In Separate House Fires
Two men and a woman have died in three separate house fires in Limerick and Kerry. In the latest incident, a man in his 60s died following a house fire in Tralee in Co Kerry. The fire broke out in the terraced house in Connolly Park at about 9.30pm yesterday. Gardaí were called to the scene at around 9.
08 April 2008
Leaving Leaders To Meet At Boyne Site
Northern Ireland's First Minister and the Taoiseach are in talks to meet at the site of the Battle of the Boyne Heritage Centre on Bertie Ahern's last day in office. The proposal is reportedly being discussed by the two administrations.
01 November 2017
Dublin Fire Brigade Responds To 1,100 Calls On Halloween Night
Dublin Fire Brigade has revealed it responded to 1,100 emergency calls during Halloween night. On what is normally the service's busiest night of the year, there were also reports of attacks on fire crews while Dublin Bus was forced to withdraw its service in part of the city.
18 August 2017
Campaign Launched Over Dangers Of Staff Shortages In Dublin Fire Brigade
Trade union SIPTU have launched a public awareness campaign over serious staff shortages in Dublin Fire Brigade and the risk this poses to working firefighters.