A memorial ceremony has taken place to mark the 80th anniversary of a fire at an orphanage in Cavan.
The fire at St Joseph's Orphanage claimed the lives of 35 children and one adult.
The orphanage was run by the Poor Clare nuns.
This evening's memorial saw a candlelight procession start at Market Square in Cavan town and proceed to the site where the former industrial school once stood.
A minute's silence was observed during the commemorations, which began at 6pm.
Bernie Connolly and Mary Rooney, the nieces of Ellen Morgan, one of the girls who died in the blaze at just ten years old, were set to take part in a wreath laying ceremony.
Ms Connolly's mother Mary and another aunt, Kathleen, were also in the orphanage at the time and were aged 12 and 14 respectively.
She said the girls were sent there after their mother died and their three brothers were sent to another school.
Ms Connolly said it was frowned upon at the time for a father to look after the children in those circumstances.
She said that over the years her mother never talked about what happened, but that she wanted to get involved with the memorial event for her aunt.
"We want to keep her memory alive. It shouldn't have happened," she said.
The orphanage was first set up as an industrial school in 1869.
There were 72 girls there on the night of the fire, which broke out in the laundry.
A tribunal of inquiry into the fire was held its aftermath in 1943.
Among its findings were that the fire "in all probability, was caused by a defective flue which could not have been discovered or anticipated by reasonable care".
It also found that the loss of life was caused by a "combination of circumstances", including "fright or panic resulting in faulty directions being given", "want of training in firefighting including rapid evacuation of personnel and movement in a smoke laden atmosphere", "the lack of proper leadership and control of operations" and also "inadequate rescue and firefighting service at the proper time".
The committee organising today's event said its main aim is to get a permanent public memorial erected dedicated to the 36 victims of the fire.
Cavan County Council said that "initial discussions" about a permanent memorial have taken place.
In a statement the council said: "It is of paramount importance that the process of erecting any such memorial is handled with appropriate sensitivity and with input from all stakeholders, most especially the families of the victims."
It said that further discussion and consultation will be required before plans for a memorial are advanced further.
