By Denise Clarke
Tuesday June 16 2009
GARDA forensic experts were last night investigating the cause of a massive fire which destroyed a landmark public house.
The blaze broke out at The Graduate pub at Killiney Shopping Centre in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, shortly after 10am yesterday morning.
Seven units of Dublin Fire Brigade tackled the blaze for a number of hours before bringing it under control.
It's understood up to 50 people including bar, floor, and kitchen staff were employed at the recently refurbished pub but the future of their jobs was uncertain last night.
Shocked onlookers, including staff and owners of nearby businesses, gathered as the fire crews battled the blaze.
The cause and source of the fire were last night unknown. The roof of the premises collapsed as the fire raged, and the surrounding businesses were evacuated and closed for the duration of the day.
The fire brigade fought the blaze all day yesterday and maintained a presence later as they dampened the fire down.
Insurance assessors will today examine the building and try to determine what caused the blaze. No one was injured.
Saddened
Fianna Fáil County Councillor for Dun Laoghaire Cormac Devlin told the Irish Independent The Graduate was a well-known pub.
"It was a popular destination and a residential bar for the local area. It was a landmark building. "I am very saddened by the incident and the loss of jobs in the locality. It is very unfortunate for the owners," Cllr Devlin said.
The Graduate, which is owned by Jim O'Rourke and Noel Maguire, is located at the roundabout on Rochestown Avenue and is within walking distance of Killiney, Ballybrack, Glenageary and Cabinteely.
