Ballymun hotel hit by fire gets set to reopen

Sonja Tutty

THE Metro Hotel in Ballymun is to reopen next month, almost two years after a fire forced its closure.

In March 2018, a fire began in an apartment on the 13th floor and quickly spread to other levels. As many as 200 staff, visitors and tenants were evacuated while 60 fire brigade officers fought the blaze.

Five floors of the 50 metre high hotel were engulfed in flames at the height of the blaze, which was believed to have started in one of the private apartments near the top of the building.

Dublin Fire Brigade dispatched eight fire engines and over 60 firefighters to the scene along with three aerial appliances, two command units and four special units.

Dublin Airport Fire Service also assisted in fighting the fire and roads surrounding the hotel at Santry Cross were closed off.

The emergency services and the hotel’s staff were widely praised at the time for their swift response to the fire and orderly evacuation.

Thankfully, no one was injured, but the impact on the hotel was severe with varying degrees of smoke and water damage. There was no evidence of any malicious intent so the investigation into the cause of the fire only took a month and construction was approved to begin soon after.

The hotel was advertised to reopen in December 2019 when they began hiring staff, but construction delays have pushed the opening to February 3, according to general manager Mark Williams.

Mr Williams said the hotel and apartments have been improved since the fire.

“It’s a complete refurbishment; it’s much more modern,” he told Northside People.

The hotel has renovated 88 guest rooms, 30 apartments, a bar and restaurant.

As part of the work, much of the hotel was required to be stripped back to its bare structure. There was then a full fit-out and replacement of lifts, as well as a significant fireproof upgrade in all areas.

The reopening of the hotel will be widely welcomed in the Ballymun community as it has created 50 jobs in the area, ranging from beverage and restaurant staff to sales and marketing managers. Many of the positions at the hotel have now been filled.

The Metro Hotel is now available for bookings. Visit www.metrohoteldublinairport.com