WATCH: Historic building by Kilkenny man who designed The White House gutted by massive blaze

A building designed by one of Kilkenny’s most famous sons and the man who designed the most powerful home in the world, is in danger of being lost forever after being set ablaze for the second time in four years.

Belcamp College designed by Callan’s James Hoban,  the man who designed the White House in Washington D.C among other historic US landmark buildings, was found to be on fire late last night.

More than 20 fire fighters rushed to save the 250 year old building on Dublin’s Malahide Road and had to use all the fire tenders available to try and get the fire at the historic building under control.

The building, a disused school, has become a target for arsonists and suffered extensive damage from another fire in 2016. Just last summer Belcamp College became the victim of a number of arson attacks, none of which took serious hold.

The fire was finally put out shortly before 9am this morning after a 12-hour battle to get the blaze under control.

It is not yet known what damage has been caused to the historic building or whether the building can be saved.

Belcamp College is one of just two buildings remaining in Ireland that were designed by Hoban, the other being here in county Kilkenny.

Rossenarra House, the other building understood to be a Hoban design is a country house (formerly Castlehale and Snugsborough), near the village of Kilmoganny. It is a former home to famous Irish artist Sir John Lavery, and author of Prizzi’s Honour and The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon.

While Mr Condon lived in the stately home in the 1960’s and 1970’s, uber-celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Frank Sinatra were guests at Rossenarra.