Firefighters battle blaze after car crashes into gate lodge at Dunsink Observatory

Three units of Dublin Fire Brigade responded to the blaze at the grounds of the landmark building.

By Daragh Brophy Tuesday 26 Jul 2016, 8:18 AM

Jul 26th 2016, 8:18 AM 17,850 Views 11 Comments

http://jrnl.ie/2895654

THREE UNITS OF Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a call-out at one of west Dublin’s landmark buildings last evening.

A car crashed into a gate lodge building at Dunsink Observatory, the country’s oldest scientific institution, shortly before 6pm last night.

It burst into flames – and fire units from Finglas, Phibsborough and Blanchardstown were called to the scene to bring the blaze under control.

The last firefighters left the scene at around 9pm last night.

Crews attended a gate house fire at Dunsink Observatory after a car was driven in to the house & set alight #Dublin pic.twitter.com/idKkVdxCJa
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 25, 2016

Source: Dublin Fire Brigade/Twitter

It’s not clear if the car went on fire after it crashed into the building, or was set alight. An investigation is under way.

The building was derelict, and no-one was injured.

Built in the 1780s for the first Andrews’ Professor of Astronomy in Trinity College Dublin, the observatory is located on a hill 8km northwest of the city centre, around a kilometre from the M50.

According to its website, it is now mainly used as residential accommodation and a venue to hire for small meetings and workshops.

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Firefighters battle blaze after car crashes into gate lodge at Dunsink Observatory

Three units of Dublin Fire Brigade responded to the blaze at the grounds of the landmark building.

Read: Body discovered at Navan Retail Park >