LAST UPDATE | 17 Aug

A LARGE FIRE that broke out at the site of a former hotel in Waterford City has now been brought under control.

Footage yesterday evening showed black smoke visible from across the city.

The site belongs to Seamus Walsh, a Kilkenny businessman who also owns Waterford Castle.

While in operation, the hotel was named the Ard Rí and Jury’s for a time.

It was last open in 2005 but has fallen into disrepair since. There have been multiple fires at the site over the years.

Donal Barry, an independent councillor for Waterford City South, thanked fire service personnel for their work “tackling the fire and bringing it under control”.

“It cannot have been easy to fight a fire in such a large derelict building with the black smoke billowing out.”

Barry told The Journal: “This is what happens when buildings are left derelict for so long.

It has been constantly vandalised and damaged over the years. And now this fire.

“We will have to see the extent of the damage to the building and its structure and if it can be saved.

“Hopefully, we will see it back open, providing employment and a much-needed hotel venue in Waterford. But this is a lesson that leaving buildings derelict puts them at risk of destruction.”

Joe Kelly, another local councillor, told The Journal there have been “a number of fires over the years” at the site.

“It used to be a brilliant hotel overlooking the city,” Kelly said, adding that the council hopes the site will be redeveloped.

Contains reporting by Mairead Maguire and Órla Ryan