Kierans family flee Fair Street inferno

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE was caused by a fire which swept through the Doran Packaging Company in Fair Street, Drogheda, on Sunday night.

Fire brigades from Drogheda and Dundalk tried hard to save the three storey building, but the high winds which fanned the fire rendered this impossible.

The brigades did, however, succeed in preventing it from spreading to an adjacent house and store yard.

The outlook was first noticed at about 7.30 p.m. by a young boy who was playing in Fair Street. Seeing smoke coming .from the factory, he notified a local publican, Mr. Jack Lynch, who telephoned the fire brigade. Shortly afterwards, the roof collapsed.

At the height of the fire, Mrs. Fintan Kierans, who lives beside the factory, rushed her two children Fiona (6) and Gavan (3) to safety. They left the children with neighbours Mr. and Mrs. Brendan Byrne, and then ran back to the house to salvage some personal possessions but couldn’t get it as there was so much smoke.

Three vans and two lorries, the property of the Harry Allen Group of Companies which were stored in the adjoining yard were taken away by workmen. They were not damaged.

Chairman, Mr. David Blood, said that the staff had carried out a magnifioent job and were deserving of commendation.

The Secretary, Lt. Commander George Worn, said that the work had been done with all Irish materials and all Irish labour. The light would be maintained each year, and should last for the next 50 years.

Mr. Blood said that he had heard a Mornington seaman, who was much travelled, express the view that the Boyne was now tho best lighted river he had ever been on, and he would concur with this opinion.