Businesses at An Sraith Salach in Connemara destroyed by fire

Emergency services battled a significant fire that ravaged a commercial building in the village of An Sraith Salach, Connemara, during the early hours of Thursday. The blaze caused extensive damage, leaving most of the structure destroyed.

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internally all destroyed

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Gerry King reported that the premises contained a pub, grocery store, post office, and craft shop. "Internally all destroyed," he stated, characterizing the incident in Recess, Co. Galway, as a "major loss to the area." He added that receiving the news had been "frightening," as such an event was unexpected.

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major loss to the area

King visited the scene after it was deemed safe and observed that the affected Joyce family, who operated the businesses, were "overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community." He praised the fire service for their efforts. Gardaí confirmed they assisted the fire brigade at the scene around 4:45 am, reporting no injuries.

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frightening

Approximately 50 fire service personnel worked to extinguish the blaze. King highlighted the building's iconic status, noting it housed one of the area's first petrol pumps. He mentioned the pub's popularity for lunch and card games, and the craft shop's international recognition for its marble products. Despite the devastation, King conveyed the family's "resolve to get this back and built again," emphasizing their long-standing commitment to serving the community.

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overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community