Longford Cathedral gutted in fire

[Celt_Man]

Longford Cathedral gutted in fire

Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Colm O'Reilly has said St Mel's Cathedral in Longford is destroyed.

He said that the building is just a shell and its burned out from end to end.

AdvertisementHe said it was a dreadful day for him personally and quite devastating.

Bishop O'Reilly said that construction began on the Cathedral in the 1840 and he described it as a flagship Cathedrals of the midlands.

He said it was an extraordinary achievement at the time. He said that the building was so central to Longford's history.

He said he celebrated midnight mass last night to a packed Cathedral.

He said that it was an extraordinary contrast this morning

A garda crime scene investigation unit has arrived at St Mel's cathedral in Longford to begin an investigation into the cause of a fire there this morning.

Christmas day masses are being said at the nearby Temperance Hall.

The fire is understood to have started just after 5am this morning.



Not a nice way to start Christmas Day

[orangeman]

Time to start collecting.

[Orior]

Holy smoke!

[Tony Baloney]

Holy smoke!

I see what you did there.

[Shamrock Shore]

Terrible news! Finest building in County Longford. At least nobody died.

[stew]

Terrible news! Finest building in County Longford. At least nobody died.

I just hope it is not arson, this is a shame to be sure, it was a beautiful building.

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

Fire, assassination attempts, deranged women and corrupt priests. Something fishy going on in 2009.

[orangeman]

Any word on the cause ?

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

Gardaí are doing house-to-house enquiries:

'Excuse me, ma'am, but did you set fire to that church'

[The Real Laoislad]

Any word on the cause ?

Shamrock Shore was havin a fag outside instead of going to midnight mass and set fire to some leafs

[stew]

Any word on the cause ?

Shamrock Shore was havin a fag outside instead of going to midnight mass and set fire to some leafs

You lot are histerical, and it's leaves you muppet.

[Celt_Man]

Terrible news! Finest building in County Longford. At least nobody died.

I just hope it is not arson, this is a shame to be sure, it was a beautiful building.

Indeed, terrible shame but delighted no know was injured or killed....

Really hope it wasn't arson

[mylestheslasher]

I'm glad no one was hurt and I hope it was accidental and not the work of some sort of an idiot arsonist.
It will be very interesting to see what will be built in its place. Since numbers are down at masses will they be pragmatic and build a less grand cathedral or will usual church vanity take over and we'll see another palace built? I ask as some of the churches in my area have been spending €1m on roofs and upgrades to my horror in the midst of a recession while the catholic church can't find money for the victims of child abuse.

[Ball DeBeaver]

Any word on the cause ?

Shamrock Shore was havin a fag outside instead of going to midnight mass and set fire to some leafs

You lot are histerical, and it's leaves you muppet.

. 

[ardmhachaabu]

where's your messiah now

Pathetic of you though I have to say I shouldn't expect anything else from you