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'We wanted to mind it; now we're watching it burn' - Fire has gutted one of Cork city's best-known buildings

A massive fire broke out at St Kevin’s Asylum near the Lee Fields at about 6pm this evening.

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A FIRE HAS broken out at an iconic building in Cork City this evening.

Five units of Cork City Fire Services are in attendance at the blaze at the building formerly known as St Kevin’s Asylum, one of the city’s best-known properties.

It’s believed that the blaze broke out at around 6pm.

st annes Twitter / Cork City Fire Brigade Twitter / Cork City Fire Brigade / Cork City Fire Brigade

“As of now, it looks like about two-thirds of the building has been burnt out,” local councillor Kieran McCarthy told TheJournal.ie at 10pm this evening.

The building, a large red-brick dating from the late 19th century situated just north of the Lee in the west of the city centre, has been closed and out of use since 2002.

dandra Sandra Murphy Sandra Murphy

“We’re calling for these buildings to be minded for years,” says McCarthy, adding that “ironically” the building was felt to be one of the most secure in the area.

It’s come as a real shock, it’s a fine summer’s evening, people are enjoying themselves, now we’re looking at this. It’s just really disappointing.
We were only talking about minding it, now we’re watching it burn.

It’s understood that there have been no reported injuries as a result of the fire.

In McCarthy’s opinion, “there’s little chance that this is accidental”. “The building is too difficult to get into for that to be the case”.

“Look, it’s a very said night, people are just standing in shock looking at a beautiful building burning. The roof is collapsing now in front of us,” Lord Mayor of Cork Tony Fitzgerald told TheJournal.ie.

It has a dark enough history, but it’s still a beautiful building. It’s just a very sad night for the city.

Read: ‘I wasn’t prepared to let her drown’ – Woman who saved 10-year-old girl on Cork beach

Read: A massive organic farm in Donegal has sold for €17.4 million

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51 Comments
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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
    Favourite Mark Fitzmaurice
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    May 24th 2015, 5:48 PM

    Here’s hoping they got out and walked away!

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    Mute Hermes
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    May 24th 2015, 6:05 PM

    What if they were drug dealers ?
    Just asking like …

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    Mute Ron North
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    May 24th 2015, 6:10 PM

    You’re an idiot Hermes.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    May 24th 2015, 6:12 PM

    Stay off the Miami Vice Hermes.

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    Mute Brian Gormley
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    May 24th 2015, 6:12 PM

    Mark, read it again, Gardai confirm there are casualties, if they are minding their own business I hope they’re ok, up to no good fcuk ‘em

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    Mute Ron North
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    May 24th 2015, 6:14 PM

    You Brian are also an idiot.

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 24th 2015, 6:17 PM

    Two injuries reported on the news. Difficult area to reach, but they’re alive.

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    Mute phillius fogg
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    May 24th 2015, 6:29 PM

    What sort of a Moronic comment is that Hermes

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    Mute Frank Flanagan
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    May 24th 2015, 7:20 PM

    Don’t be speculating, Denis Reidy….
    Wait for the facts.

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    Mute Ron North
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    May 24th 2015, 7:32 PM

    He’s not speculating, he is saying what was reported on the news.
    .
    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/speculating

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    Mute Frank Flanagan
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    May 24th 2015, 7:42 PM

    He WAS speculating… He said they were alive – when in fact they weren’t.
    Shouldnt believe everything you hear in the media…
    May they rest in peace.

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    Mute Ron North
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    May 24th 2015, 7:51 PM

    He said “Two injuries reported on the news…etc. etc. “.
    The news channel may have been speculating but he wasn’t, he stated that something was reported on the news, which to the best of my knowledge was a fact (that it was reported on the news).

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    Mute Hermes
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    May 24th 2015, 7:52 PM

    I didn’t read the story – I reacted to the original comment ……………..

    May they rest in Peace whoever they are – had it indicated that they were dead I would have not commented at all !

    N.B. – Stories change as the hours, days or weeks progress ……

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    Mute Tinkers Toenail
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    May 24th 2015, 8:00 PM

    What’s the craic lads. What have I missed?

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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
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    May 24th 2015, 8:11 PM

    Brian, I commented when the story was just that there had been a plane crash. They’ve updated it now to say there are people dead so my comment now looks ridiculous.

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    Mute Mary Costello
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    May 24th 2015, 8:22 PM

    One of the men was my first cousin Brian. He would have celebrated his 70th birthday later this year with his twin brother. Brian was one of the nicest men I have ever known. We are all heartbroken. RIP.

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 24th 2015, 8:27 PM

    @Mary, My sincere condolences.

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    Mute Mary Costello
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    May 24th 2015, 8:44 PM

    Thanks Denis.

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    Mute Hermes
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    May 24th 2015, 8:48 PM

    Mary my condolences as well….

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    Mute Mary Costello
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    May 24th 2015, 9:20 PM

    Thanks Hermes.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    May 24th 2015, 9:57 PM

    May they rest in peace.

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    May 24th 2015, 9:57 PM

    Sorry to hear that Mary.

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    Mute Paula Kehoe
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    May 25th 2015, 7:39 AM

    Sorry for your loss. Xxxx

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    Mute Ross
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    May 24th 2015, 10:41 PM

    Can’t believe some of the comments on a report of a terrible accident and the deaths of two men out for a flight on a Sunday. There sure are some black-hearted, mean-minded people out there.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    May 24th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Just read the update. Sad news. RIP.

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    May 24th 2015, 7:45 PM

    RIP fellow aviators

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    Mute Ciaran Pender
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    May 24th 2015, 6:54 PM

    I could see where the helicopter was hovering its a remote enough area now!

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    Mute Ciaran Pender
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    May 24th 2015, 6:56 PM

    We live on the mountain and we can’t see the plane but from where the helicopter lowered its a remote area!

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    Mute Glen
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    May 24th 2015, 6:16 PM

    Apparently it crashed in a hard to reach area.

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 24th 2015, 6:18 PM

    How’re ye Glen, you multi tasking too?

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    Mute Ciaran Pender
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    May 24th 2015, 8:05 PM

    We spotted the crash site, they so nearly made it over the mountain, very very remote area

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    Mute fuve
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    May 24th 2015, 8:03 PM

    Rest in peace poor men :(I hope it was swift. Deepest condolences to their families

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    Mute Mark O'Donohoe
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    May 24th 2015, 7:27 PM

    Rescue 117 just confirmed on Facebook that occupants X2 RIP :’(

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    Mute Mark O'Donohoe
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    May 24th 2015, 7:30 PM

    Correction, Irish Coast Guard page on Facebook. Rescue 117 had been tasked.

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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    May 24th 2015, 8:10 PM

    Possibly on the way to or from the ILAS fly in in Wexford today? RIP

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    Mute Chris
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    May 24th 2015, 8:11 PM

    Sad story, RIP.

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    Mute Mark Fitzsimons
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    May 25th 2015, 1:14 AM

    RIP! Terrible to here!

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