St Mel's

Had a wander around Longford on Christmas day to see St Mel's (named after Mel Gibson don't ya know).

Not being a local I didn't really have an attachment but seems to be a big loss to the locals with 150 years of history going up in smoke.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z3x09TA-2NcXeOlJ2_XF3Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GeaY3aT0m9Q/SzkBu81l-3I/AAAAAAAABEI/IRjdAdd_ZVo/s800/DSC_0082.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pauloconnell/Christmas2009?feat=embedwebsite">Christmas 2009</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1gj-6kyYiiJ1vqCwgp4mYw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GeaY3aT0m9Q/SzkB5jnvZlI/AAAAAAAABEg/IygBjXAbS1s/s800/DSC_0087.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pauloconnell/Christmas2009?feat=embedwebsite">Christmas 2009</a></td></tr></table>

These lads obviously weren't listening when Egon Spengler said you never cross the streams....
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Vnv4dwxkmklL_yb5hNoUWQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GeaY3aT0m9Q/SzkCNmNKurI/AAAAAAAABFA/uGgMVNC5aW0/s800/DSC_0095.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pauloconnell/Christmas2009?feat=embedwebsite">Christmas 2009</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/H4fSWc77RCOsFCGlcmq2mw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GeaY3aT0m9Q/SzkCP8PS2eI/AAAAAAAABFE/NQcFbb12_xw/s800/DSC_0096.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/pauloconnell/Christmas2009?feat=embedwebsite">Christmas 2009</a></td></tr></table>

Looks like a daycent gaff. I always wondered why Athlone town's ground was called st mels park.

those pictures don't show the extent of the damage.as the fire crews said they managed to save the front of the buildings and hopefully the outside walls.
the whole building is completely gutted,roof fell in,stained glass windows all broken.
the people of longford county have 170 years history in that building.
the amount of christenings, communions,conformations, weddings and funerals that happened in that building.
all the records of these events for the last 170 years have also been destroyed,
there is a huge sense of loss in the town and county but a determination to rebuild and restore what is longfords greatest landmark
PS padge the pictures are very good but in you have been able to get around the back you would have seen where the fire started and the most damage was done