Landmark hotel gutted in blaze

Gardaí are treating as suspicious a fire which destroyed the former Sacre Coeur Hotel in Salthill.

Two firefighters luckily escaped injury when flames burst through a boarded-up ground floor window – directly at their faces – as they battled the fire.

Forensic and technical examinations are continuing to be carried out at the scene today (Thursday) by Gardaí and the Chief Fire Officer.

Any forensic evidence will then have to be sent to the State laboratory for analysis.

A Garda spokesperson told the Connacht Tribune: “The fire is being treated as suspicious. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Salthill Station on 091 514720.”

Detectives are also trawling through CCTV footage captured on Garda cameras in Salthill and from private premises nearby, including an adjoining carpark.

A total of six units of Galway Fire and Rescue Service – including back-up from county stations and a water tanker – were called to the scene at around 6.45pm on Monday.

Gardaí closed off the surrounding roads at Lenaboy Gardens, Oaklands and Rockhill, and were later forced to close off Salthill between the old Warwick Hotel and Seapoint roundabout, as hundreds of people gathered in various vantage points to watch the fire.

Among those who watched the building go up in flames from a neighbouring garden at Lenaboy was Sean Dunleavy Snr, who built up the Sacre Coeur business from the early 1960s, and continued to have an involvement in it up until its closure in November 2005, when his family sold the site to a property developer.

The blaze quickly spread throughout the three-storey building – which has been empty since it closed down in November 2005. Firefighters were at the scene until after 2am on Tuesday.

However, they were called back to the building later that day after part of the building re-ignited.

Examinations of the scene – to determine how the fire started – were delayed because the building continued to smoulder yesterday.

■ See dramatic video footage of the blaze – including the firefighters’ lucky escape – HERE