Hotel’s future unclear after fire

The future of the Commons Inn Hotel remains unclear as the damage caused from a fire is assessed by the owners.

Parents who had communions and confirmations booked at the hotel will be contacted by the hotel in the coming days after a fire ripped through the back of the building on Monday.

No injuries were suffered in the blaze, which caused damage to the roof and storage areas of the hotel, as well as fire, smoke and water damage to other areas.

A statement from the hotel said it would “await further assessment” to find out when it can re-open, and as of going to print calls to the hotel were being redirected to Great National Hotels, the group which owns the hotel.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but investigations are being carried out by gardaí and the hotel’s insurers.

Following the fire, the Commons’ Facebook page was inundated with comments from parents with communions and confirmations booked at the hotel, with families fearing they may need to find an alternative venue.

Several online comments suggested the hotel had been in contact with some parents, who said they were told they would be contacted in the next few days.

Victor Shine, second fire officer at Cork City Fire Brigade, told ‘The Neil Prendeville Show’ on RedFM that the hotel had full occupancy in both its rooms and dining areas when the fire occurred at approximately 1pm on Monday, and that all guests were safely evacuated.

The 40-bedroom three-star hotel has been open on the New Mallow Road for over 30 years. It was sold in early 2016 by long-term owners the O’Neill family to Great National Hotels, a group which owns a number of hotels around Ireland and the UK.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn said the hotel had been “loved and enjoyed by people on the northside for many years” and said he hoped to see it reopen as quickly as possible.