Archive: Explosion shatters homes in Kilkenny City

A huge gas blast ripped through a block of Corporation houses in Kilkenny, causing extensive damage and injuring one man seriously.

When 64-year-old bread delivery man Michael Holland of 4 St Fiacre’s Place struck a match to light his gas stove the entire block of four houses was rocked by an explosion.

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Mr Holland was blown across the room which burst into flames. But he crawled to safety, his clothes partly burned off him and lino wrapped around his legs by the blast.

Upstairs, his wife Ciss was thrown forcibly out of bed as the floor of the bedroom was ripped apart. A large section of the back wall of the house was completely blown out and every window in the house was shattered.

Next door Tommy Barry was bringing a cup of tea upstairs to his wife when the house was shaken by explosion. Windows blew in and the back wall cracked.

Further on in the home of Mr and Mrs Sean Devane the shockwaves almost tore the gable wall asunder, leaving large cracks inside and outside.

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In the home of Mr John Leahy, which adjoins Holland's on the other side, the party wall bulged inwards and smaller cracks spread along the entire length of their house and supermarket.

At the time of going to press, a detailed survey of the houses was still being carried out by Corporation engineers. It was uncertain of Holland's house would have to be completely demolished and rebuilt.

Mr Holland’s progress at St Luke’s Hospital was described as satisfactory.