Seven fire brigade units from Co Clare and Galway city and county finally brought a fire at a large meat processing factory in Gort, Co Galway under control today at 12.30pm.
Duffy's Meat Plant at Crow Street has sustained serious damage in the fire which was reported shortly before 7 a.m. No-one was injured in the incident.
Efforts are continuing to establish how the fire started.
The company, which employs 140 people, said there would be temporary lay-offs in the wake of the fire but said it would do everything it could to minimise disruption to workers.
A water tanker and a hydraulic platform were brought in to help firefighters bring the blaze under control.
A spokesman for Galway fire brigade said their main focus was trying to keep the fire away from a number of gas tanks at the back of the factory.