A Cork community is coming to terms with the death of two men in a house fire overnight.

Gardaí and fire services attended the scene of the fire in St Coleman's Park in Macroom at around 4am.

When the blaze was brought under control the bodies of two men were discovered in the house. The two deceased have been named locally as 26-year-old Kenny Relihan and 62-year-old Noel O'Mahony.

They were pronounced dead at the scene and their bodies were removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

A woman who escaped the fire by jumping from an upstairs window was also brought to CUH, her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Another man, believed to be a neighbour, who had tried to get into the burning house was also brought to hospital with minor injuries.

Ralph Riegel, southern correspondent with the Irish Independent, says the town is in shock:

“It's the worst possible news on a bank holiday weekend and people are in an awful sense of shock. One man I was talking to said that a lot of people living locally would have multiple relatives and friends throughout the estate so it's a very tight knit area and people are dreadfully shocked.

“Initially the word was that one person had died and you could see that people were visibly taken aback when they heard that two people had died and another person was seriously ill and in hospital.”

The scene has been sealed off and a technical examination of the area is taking place.

Early indications are that the fire started accidently.

Gardaí are appealing to witnesses to contact them at Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590.