On Sunday, July 12th, 1970 at 17.05 hours a call came from the Garda Station stating that there was a fire at Delehanty's, High Street.

At 17.10 hours CIP 160 left the station with J. Kennedy (Station Officer); J. Walton (Sub Officers); P. Fahy; P. Hogan; J. Barry; J. Traynor on board. At 17.12 the Civil Defence fire engine left with J. Murphy (Sub Officer) G. Duffy; J. Brady; P. Lyons; M. Kavanagh; J. Stapleton and P. O' Brien. The Civil Defence engine had to attend this fire because the Pump Escape was undergoing repairs.

When CIP 160 arrived at, the scene, Station Officer J. Kennedy, who was the officer on board, discovered that the fire had spread to Smithwick's (the shop) next door and that he had a major fire on his hands. When Chief Fire Officer Hugh Corrigan arrived at the scene he requested assistance from all outside stations.

The fire was brought under control at about 20.00. All the outside stations returned to bases at about 22.00. Kilkenny City fire service remained at the scene until 19.00 on Monday evening cooling down debris and small pockets of fire. A large amount of damage was caused to both premises, Delehanty's and Smithwick's and several weeks later, Smithwick's premises were knocked.

Firemen fight the blaze from High Street

Firemen fight the blaze from the roof of the Kilkenny People office

Frontal view of damage

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