State memorial 100 years after Dromcollogher cinema fire

Today marks the centenary of the Dromcollogher cinema fire, an Irish disaster that claimed the lives of 48 people. The tragedy, locally known as The Burning, took place at a makeshift cinema in Co Limerick on September 5, 1926. Around 150 individuals had gathered to watch two films when a candle fell and ignited highly flammable nitrate film. The fire rapidly spread through the temporary cinema located upstairs in a wooden loft, with a wooden ladder being the only means of access.

Forty-eight people died in the blaze, comprising nearly one tenth of Dromcollogher's population. Over half of the victims were under the age of 25, including 15 children. The youngest victims were two seven-year-olds. Delilah Shine, a member of the Dromcollogher26 committee, recalls her grandaunt's stories of surviving the fire by escaping through a window, a detail later confirmed by the National Archives. Pat Lordan's father, Paddy, and other survivors recount how Edward Stack, who helped children escape, lost his life.

Gerry Keyes, chairman of the Dromcollogher 26 group, emphasizes that the State commemoration will serve as a respectful tribute to the victims and their families, acknowledging the historical significance of the event. He hopes the recognition will prevent the disaster from being forgotten. The commemoration aims to bring the community together to remember the lives lost in one of Dromcollogher's darkest nights.