Gorey’soldesthotel isdamagedbyfire

April 1984

Gorey’s oldest hotel and one of its oldest hostelries, the Railway Hotel on Main Street, was badly damaged by fire in the early hours of Thursday morning last. Because of the fire, the premises is now closed.

No guests were on the premises, however, as the Railway Hotel has not been fully operated as a hotel in recent years, and apart from a caretaker, no-one lives on the premises. The caretaker had not yet retired to bed for the night when the fire broke out.

The fire, which appears to have originated in a chimney, caused extensive damage to the top floor of the three-storey building, which is located in the centre of the town.

One bedroom was gutted and two others damaged in the blaze, while the roof was also extensively damaged.

The Festival Lounge Bar on the ground floor suffered water damage, as did some of the rooms on the first floor. The Festival Lounge Bar had been completely renovated just two years ago.

Gorey Fire Brigade was called to deal with a chimney fire at the premises at 2 a.m., but when it appeared to be extinguished, a major fire broke out on the top storey. Two units of the brigade then fought the fire for several more hours, and firemen had to use breathing apparatus because of the dense smoke.

Three firemen trying to reach a burning top floor bedroom had a narrow escape from being trapped when the fire suddenly swept along a hall ceiling and got behind them. However, they managed to escape injury.

The brigade succeeded in confining the fire to the top storey and prevented it from spreading to the neighbouring premises of L&M Molloy Motor Factors. Indeed, had the fire got out of control, it could have threatened the whole block of the Main Street.

The brigade succeeded in confining the fire to the top storey and prevented it from spreading to the neighbouring premises of L&M Molloy Motor Factors. Indeed, had the fire got out of control, it could have threatened the whole block of the Main Street.

The Railway Hotel, which was built about 1850, is one of the town’s best-known and most popular meeting places and is used by most of the town’s organisations as a venue for their meetings. The closure of the hotel will be a big loss to the entire community.

Since the fire, Wexford County Council have sealed off the street at the side of the premises leading from the Main Street to Market Square to all traffic, and they have also sealed off the Main Street footpath in front of the premises. This has been done as a precautionary measure until the safety, or otherwise, of the building is determined.

The public will join in extending sympathy to the owner of the hotel, Miss Gretta Doran, on her great loss caused by the fire.

An architect’s report is being awaited to determine the future of the premises.