Staff serve up festive fare after hotel fire
Man hospitalised after blaze at Kilkenny venue
CHRISTMAS was ‘saved’ for hundreds of elderly people who were almost left without their dinner following a major hotel fire in Kilkenny yesterday.
A man was hospitalised with smoke inhalation following the blaze at a popular hotel and nightclub, which started yesterday morning.
The extensive fire broke out shortly after 9am in the kitchen of the four-star Langtons House Hotel on John’s Street.
However, Eddie Langton, whose family own the hotel, confirmed when contacted by the Irish Daily Mail that they opened another of their city venues , the Marble City Bar, to ensure the elderly community were not left without their festive dinner.
It is understood a staff member, who was on the premises at the time, was woken by a fire alarm and ran downstairs to find the kitchen ablaze.
The man was staying in the hotel in advance of the traditional Christmas dinner for hundreds of elderly people, which is prepared and served up by staff every year. The man immediately called the fire services as he attempted to put out the fire.
Three units of the fire brigade and ambulances were on the scene within minutes.
The injured man was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital as he was believed to be suffering from smoke inhalation. No guests were in the hotel at the time.
Gardaí and fire services were at the scene yesterday and the premises and street were cordoned off. Investigations by Garda, fire service and Health and Safety Authority into how the blaze started are due to begin.
The fire, which caused damage worth hundreds of thousands of euro, is not believed to have been started maliciously.
A member of the emergency services said: ‘The [injured] man was immediately brought to St Luke’s General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
‘Thankfully the fire was eventually contained and did not spread past the kitchen from what we know so far. There is a lot of damage in the kitchen and it is not known if the hotel will be able to open in the coming days. The fire will cost the business hundreds of thousands of euro and may take some time to sort out.’
Members of the Langton family rushed to the scene of the fire after being notified by staff.
Speaking yesterday, local Fianna Fáil councillor Andrew McGuinness said: ‘Great credit is due to our fire and emergency services for their swift response on a day when most of us are celebrating with our families.’
A staff member said: ‘We are all devastated by the news of the fire and absolutely distraught for the Langton family.
‘They work so hard to deliver a first-class service to patrons and are very good to their staff.’