Firefighters hailed after major Moville fire brought under control

The prompt action of the Donegal Fire Service has been hailed after a major fire at a historic old mill in Moville.

Firefighters battled for over seven hours after a fire broke out at the Gulladuff Mills just outside the town on Friday afternoon.

Fire tenders from Buncrana and Carndonagh were assisted by two crews from Letterkenny after the building went ablaze at around 5pm.

The old mill site is on the R238 Moville to Carndonagh road and next door to a filling station, which closed its doors immediately. The business was able to open to customers again on Saturday morning.

There are also residential properties, including the Riverwood housing estate, in very close proximity. 

“The emergency services were on the scene within minutes, they were there very quickly,” Moville-based Labour Councillor Martin Farren said.

“It could have been so much worse given how close the petrol station is especially. It was a hell of a fire.

Flames illuminated the night sky for miles and firefighters worked until after midnight to get the fire under control.

Emergency services remain at the scene and an examination will be carried out by a Garda forensics team in due course.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí are currently attending (the scene) with emergency services. When the site is made safe an examination will be conducted. No injuries have been reported at this time. No further information is available.”

The Guladuff Mills have been derelict for the best part of the last 25 years and has asbestos in the roof. 

Originally built around 1840 as a corn mill, the mill was extended on at least one occasion during the second half of the 19th century.

It had been one of the largest surviving early industrial complexes on the Inishowen peninsula.

The property, totalling 1.653 acres and including buildings, sheds and a yard, has been up for sale by private treaty. 

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Councillor Farren said: “We are so fortunate to have the fire service in Donegal ready to respond. This was a very serious fire. It was a hell of a fire and certainly could have been much worse.”