BREAKING - Historic Kilkenny building continues to smoulder - Lower John Street remains closed to traffic

As tributes pour into the unnamed garda who saved the lives of two people in yesterday's huge fire at historic Dr Mitchell's House on the River Nore at John's Bridge,  Lower John Street, Kilkenny remains closed.

Fireman, gardai and other emergency service personnel are making sure the place is safe and are aiding the criminal investigation into the cause of the fire at the listed building which was completely gutted in the blaze which took hold within a matter of minutes.

Even with the rain of the last few hours, parts of the shell of the building continue to smoulder.

And last night at the Dunningstown Road Community Alert Group AGM in Dicksboro GAA Club, Sgt Paul Donoghue paid tribute to his colleeague at Kilkenny garda station who thought nothing for his own personal safety when he saved two people caught inside the building yesterday morning.

He said that the officer who does not want to be named at this stage had done a great service to the community.