Longford cafe owners vow to reopen after fire destroys premises

The fire at Esquires in Longford broke out on Monday of this week.

Owners of the cafe chain have said they were "devastated" after a fire destroyed their Longford branch, but intend on getting to work with the rebuilding process as soon as possible. Fergal McGovern and Rhona O'Sullivan of Esquires commended the staff at their Longford cafe for reacting so quickly after the fire broke out, adding that no one was injured as a result. The scene was attended by units from Longford Fire Station and local Gardaí, whom Fergal and Rhona also thanked in a post on Facebook. They added that the staff at the cafe located in Longford’s N4 Axis Centre were heartbroken following the fire - " a feeling we share with them deeply". The fire, which is believed to have emanated from a fryer has caused wholesale damage to the cafe, but owners Fergal and Rhona are committed to reopening as soon as possible. Fergal told the Longford Leader:

There is obviously significant smoke and fire damage to the unit, but we are obviously insured and it is our full intention to re-open that unit and make it bigger and brighter than ever. 

He said he was conscious of the impact the fire and subsequent closure would have on the 20 people employed at the cafe, as well as on the regular customers.

We are very conscious of that, the people who have been with us and who don’t have a job to go to tomorrow at a time when we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and to all of our customers who have been so, so supportive of us.

On Facebook, the owners confirmed the process of rebuilding was getting underway, adding "we hope to be serving you in the near future".  Header image via Facebook/Esquires Coffee Ireland  READ NEXT: Domestic violence survivors to get 5 days paid leave with new bill