Fire destroys historic county Limerick dancehall

A FIRE has gutted a well known furniture store in Dromkeen, county Limerick, once home to the famous Oyster Ballroom.

The fire at the Furniture Man store in the village broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning, with up to ten units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service - and others from Tipperary and Newport - battling the blaze.

The fire service got a call to attend the scene at 3.20am and remained at the scene until lunchtime on Sunday.

The furniture store was once the site of the famed Oyster Ballroom, home to dances that regularly drew thousands, playing hosts to Jim Reeves and the show band greats over its storied history.

It was built by Packie Hayes in 1958 and was, at the time of its construction, the largest ballroom in the south of Ireland.

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