‘He was very special' – Man killed in Cork city house fire named locally as master beer brewer as tributes pour in

The Irish Sun

21-07-2025

A MAN killed in a house fire today was a well-known master beer brewer.
The victim of the blaze on the north side of
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A man who died in a house fire in Cork city has been named locally
Credit: Cork's 96FM & C103
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Master brewer Peter was remembered as a 'lovely man' who 'will be missed'
Credit: Journalist Collect
Peter, 62, previously worked in the award-winning Irish craft Franciscan Well brewery on Cork's North Mall for almost three decades as head brewer.
Peter, who was known as a gentleman and a gentle giant, was popular with visitors and staff alike.
The brewery credited him with developing a Celebration Brew, which proved a great success.
It's understood Peter moved to work in a distillery in Cork's Marina Park in recent years.
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Shane Long, who founded the Franciscan Well Bar and Brewery, worked with Peter for almost 30 years and said he knew him very well.
In a heartfelt tribute, he said: 'If you had to have a photograph in the dictionary to define the word 'gentleman' it would be a photo of Peter.
'He was a quiet man. He kept his own counsel but he helped so many people over the years and the only person who knew about it was the person he helped. He was just that type of person."
A neighbour said: 'He was a lovely man - a big friendly giant who will be missed."
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Mary Crilly, CEO of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, said she knew Peter and he was always willing to lend a helping hand.
She said: 'He was working there in the Franciscan Well for a long time. Then he moved to work on the Marina.
'GORGEOUS PERSON'
'He was a gorgeous person. I was mad about him.
'We moved in by the Well around 10 years ago. We were renovating a house there and I got to know him fairly early, because if I needed someone to lift something Peter would be there. He was just lovely.
'He would be there in a blink of an eye to do something for you.
The Well would have done a bit of fundraising for the Sexual Violence Centre and anything we wanted, Peter was behind us.
'He was very special. I am gutted about him because we were fond of him.'
ALARM RAISED
The alarm was raised at 12.45am today, with units of Cork Fire Brigades from both Anglesea Street and Ballyvolane stations attending at the scene at the Ardcullen estate in Hollyhill.
A woman managed to get out of the house and alerted neighbours who rushed to assist her.
The emergency services were quickly on the scene and were told there was a man still inside the property.
Using breathing apparatus, the firefighters managed to access the burning house and located Peter inside.
POST MORTEM DUE
The woman, in her 60s, was treated by paramedics before being transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH) to be treated for non life threatening injuries.
A post mortem examination will be carried out on the deceased man at CUH.
The coroner has been notified and an inquest will be held in due course.
SCENE SEALED OFF
The scene was sealed off to facilitate a full technical examination of the two-storey terraced property.
Efforts will be made to determine the cause of the blaze.
A source said
However it is understood the fire is being treated as a tragic accident.