By Conor Sharkey
A FORENSIC team were still working today (Thursday) in a bid to establish the cause of a fire which gutted a Strabane Orange Hall earlier this week.
The Craig Memorial Hall, Patrick Street, was destroyed when fire swept through it in the early hours of Monday morning. Five fire appliances from across the North West fought for almost five hours in a bid to save the historic building. Due to the extent of the damage however, the building may now have to be torn down.
It is yet unclear what caused the fire, however initial investigations suggest it probably started accidentally.
Originally erected as a school house, the Craig Memorial Hall has been home to Strabane LOL 250 since 1929. The local lodge currently has around 50 members.
Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle on Monday, Master of the Lodge Malcolm Mutch said local Orange Order members were deeply saddened by the loss of the hall.
"We are all devastated at losing our hall and I hope the investigation does show that the fire started accidentally because we have never had a problem here in Strabane, not even during the Troubles, and I would hate to think someone did this deliberately now."
As for what Strabane LOL 250 plan to do next, he said: "There is nothing left but the four walls. The old maple floor on the first floor is completely gone, as is the roof, so it looks like it will have to be rebuilt from scratch.
"We will have to meet very shortly and discuss our plans for the future but it looks like we will just have to hire somewhere locally and use that for the time being."
Commenting on the support he and the lodge have received in the wake of Monday's fire, Mr Mutch added: "We have received dozens of messages and the phone hasn't stopped all week. It's nice to see so much support from both sides fo the community."
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein councillor Jarlath McNulty said that Strabane has lost a significant part of its heritage as a result of the fire.
He said: "The shock and sadness at the loss of the Craig Memorial will not only be felt by the patrons of the hall but will be shared right across the local community as it was an important part of the heritage of the area."
