A 36-year-old man was killed in a fire at his home in Co Cork early yesterday in what was the second serious fire in the country at the weekend.
The man was alone in the house in Castlelyons, about five miles from Fermoy, when the fire broke out before 1 a.m. Gardaí in Fermoy are investigating.
A separate investigation is under way in Co Wexford after millions of euro of damage was caused when a fire gutted six premises in Bunclody.
Fire brigades from Co Wexford and neighbouring counties fought the fire which broke out shortly before 6 a.m. yesterday, with consequences for up to 60 full and part-time jobs.
Owners of the premises - Rothwell's menswear, Spar convenience store, Finn's pub and newsagents, Thornton's pharmacy, Carton accountants and Cahill's hardware - watched as flames engulfed the row of buildings on Bunclody's Main Street.
The fire is understood to have started at the rear of one of the premises, and was reported by a passer-by.
The blaze took around five hours to contain. Garda technical teams also carried out a forensic examination of the buildings.
Pub owner Mr Denis Finn, his wife, Catherine, their six children and three friends, staying over after a wedding, were asleep above their pub when the fire broke out.
"I woke up at 6 a.m., and saw smoke billowing from the premises next door. The most important thing is that I got my family out," said Mr Finn.
Ms Eileen Carton, whose husband's accountancy office was also destroyed, was upset but thankful no lives had been lost.
Chief fire officer Ms Maria Melia said demand for water exceeded supply but extra water was sourced from the nearby river Slaney and a water tank.