Fire at north Mayo site set for major housing development

A fire has damaged a derelict building in Ballina that had been earmarked for a major social housing development by Mayo County Council.

The blaze broke out shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday evening at a long-vacant property on Kevin Barry Street across from the bus station in Ballina.

Emergency services responded quickly and the fire was brought under control later that night.

The building is located on a site where the local authority had lodged plans last year to construct 31 apartments, including a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom homes.

The project also included the refurbishment of three existing terraced houses at 5–7 Raheen Row.

The proposed development, submitted under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Act, also featured communal green spaces, footpaths, cycle lanes, public lighting and access roads connecting to Kevin Barry Street and James Connolly Street.

Fire crews attended the scene after passersby reported smoke visible.

“I was inside my house when it felt like someone was burning something in the chimney,” said one local resident.

“Next thing I knew, a neighbour banged on my window and the house next door was up in flames.”

“The fire went huge and blew up high. Something went bang and boom when the fire brigade were on the scene,” a local witness told the Connaught Telegraph.

The road was closed for several hours as Gardaí cordoned off the area to assist fire crews.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected.