'A miracle nobody was killed' as pub collapses with five people inside in Mayo

Five people have been taken to hospital after a three-storey building in the centre of Kilkelly collapsed at approximately 8.45am this morning.

The premises known as Duffy's Bar on Main Street, Kilkelly collapsed without warning this morning. There were five people in the building at the time but miraculously all five people were taken alive from the building by emergency services.

It is understood four were able to walk from the building while emergency services helped assist an elderly lady from the ruins.

They were taken to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar but it is understood that none of their injuries are considered serious or life threatening. It is understood that they are not local to the Kilkelly area and had been visiting the locality and staying in accommodation in the building.

The adjacent building to Duffy's Bar had been demolished in recent weeks and construction work had been taking place on the site. Part of the collapsed pub fell onto the street and the main street through Kilkelly has been cordoned off while the electricity for the east Mayo village has been cut off as a precaution.

Emergency services are currently on site and making the site safe while the Health and Safety Authority have been notified.

Local councillor John Caulfield told The Mayo News that it was a miracle nobody was killed or seriously injured when the building collapsed. He added it was fortunate that the incident occurred during mid-term or else the street would have been busier.

“The building collapsed at a time when children would be going to school but fortunately with no school there wasn't. Otherwise at that time there was a good chance people would have been going to school. The building did come out on the pavement. It is a miracle that nobody was killed. For a three-storey building to come down in one go and people to get out with their lives is miraculous,” he said.

Duffy's Bar is currently run by Kevin Duffy and his wife Maureen and has been in the family name for over a century and has been a commercial premises for over 120 years. Cllr Caulfield said that the Duffy's have run a thriving business since Kevin took over the pub from his uncles in 1983 and it is a sad day for all involved.

“It is a sad day for Kilkelly with all the history of that building. It has been run since 1983 by Kevin Duffy and Maureen and they ran a very successful business and they had a very busy weekend. I have spoken to them and they are in a state of shock and saddened because there is so much history involved. They have put so much into it and to see it all fall down in front of their eyes is very sad. On the other hand they are very grateful that nobody was injured and there was a huge sigh of relief this morning that nobody was killed,” he said,

Cllr Caulfield commended all the emergency services and people who came to the aid of the people inside the building and hoped that the village could reopen later in the day.