Wicklow hotel damaged in blaze

Fire crews at the scene of a blaze that badly damaged Lawless's Hotel in Aughrim Co Wicklow early this morning. Photograph: Garry O'Neill

Gardai are investigating an early morning fire that badly damaged one of Co Wicklow's oldest hotels.

The fire broke out at Lawless's Hotel in Aughrim at about 4am. Five units of the the fire service were called in to deal with the blaze, with units from Arklow, Tinahely, Rathdrum and Carnew attending.

The hotel, which was exstablished in 1787, has a lengthy heritage in the Co WIcklow town.

Witnesses said the guest rooms, function rooms and kitchen appeared to have been almost destroyed, but the front of the hotel was intact.

Gardaí said no customers were believed to have been in the hotel at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

The road from Annacurragh to Aughrim was sealed off for a time during the incident.