One of Limerick's old historic buildings dating back to the 1850s has been destroyed in a fire.
Fire broke out at The Sailor's Home on O'Curry Street near Limerick's docks shortly after 1am on Saturday morning.
Up to six units of Limerick City Fire Service, as well as units from Cappamore and Rathkeale, fought the blaze for over four hours. However, the house has been destroyed.
The building is a preserved structure, built in the mid-1850s and regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings of its type in the city.
It had been vacant for a number of years, but had hosted a number of art exhibitions in the recent past.
It is owned and managed by the Shannon Foynes Port company.
While originally built as a rest home for sailors working on the nearby docklands during the 1850s, it was never used for that purpose and was subsequently used as a base for military equipment and as an RIC barracks.
Historian Dr Paul O'Brien of Mary Immaculate College said news of the fire was shocking and he was devastated to learn the building was destroyed. In a post on Twitter he said "1850s built and social history up in flames".
The Limerick Civic Trust said it was also shocked to learn the beautiful building had been ruined, but has pledged to help repair it.
The Trust said it had discussions in the past about a community-centred approach to the future restoration and use of the building, and they would work with various parties to bring the site back to its original state.
Shannon Foynes Port Company, the owner of the building, says that its priority now is to make the building safe.
In a statement, the company said that once the building is safe the extent of the damage will be assessed.
