Man (62) who died in Cork house fire named locally

Olivia Kelleher

A man who died in a house fire in Hollyhill on the northside of Cork city overnight has been named as master brewer, Peter Lyall, who was well respected in the drinks industry in the city.

Mr Lyall (62) was pronounced dead at the scene after a blaze broke out at his home in Ardcullen estate in Hollyhill at around 12.45am on Monday.

Firefighters from Anglesea Street and Ballyvolane stations attended at the property.

A woman managed to make her way out of the two storey terraced property. She was transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.

Her injuries are not life threatening in nature.

A postmortem examination will be carried out on the deceased at Cork University Hospital. A forensic examination of the scene will be carried out to establish the seat of the fire.

Mr Lyall was the master brewer at the prestigious Franciscan Well Brewery in Cork for over 20 years.

Mary Crilly, CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre in Cork, who lives near the brewery said that the late Peter Lyall was the kindest of souls.

“He was working there (the Franciscan Well) for a long time. Then he moved (job) to (a location) on the Marina. He was a gorgeous person. I was mad about him.

We moved in (by the well) around ten years ago and 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.”

Meanwhile, a neighbour in Hollyhill described Mr Lyall as being “a lovely chap, a big friendly guy” who will be much missed in the area.

An inquest will be held in due course. Funeral arrangements have as yet to be finalised for Mr Lyall.