Fresh start forfamily who saw home destroyed by fire

A LOCAL family who watched their home burn to the ground on New Year’s Eve are now looking forward to a fresh start in new surroundings.

The Donnelly family lost everything in the horror blaze but, against all the odds, the house has been repaired.

They are now holding a charity event to show their appreciation for the Red Cross who helped them in their ‘hour of need’.

Eimear Donnelly said that, as she, her father Paddy, mother Deirdre, and siblings Pat (21) and Grace (13) stood watching the blaze in a state of paralysis, Red Cross volunteers worked tirelessly to make the experience a little easier – acting like angels in a nightmare.

“It was New Year’s Eve when those lovely volunteers came to us in our hour of need,” said Eimear, “there aren’t too many people who would sacrifice a time reserved for celebration in order to go and stand by the side of someone they don’t even know.”

She continued, “They brought us tea, toiletries, clothes – things that we didn’t have because almost everything had been lost, and things we barely remembered we needed because the shock had left us in a daze.”

The fire decimated the house, charring some things and turning the rest to ash – any of the internal structures that weren’t destroyed by the fire suffered extensive water damage when the house was flooded by the fire services who attempted to extinguish the blaze.
repaired

It is astonishing that less than a year on, the Donnelly home has been repaired and is ready for living in.

“In less than a week we will be back into the house that my family had called home for over 25 years,” said Eimear.

To mark this emotional homecoming and draw the curtains on a traumatic event, Eimear is looking forward to taking on a 24 hour endurance event which begins August 20. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.

“It is going to be tough,” said Eimear, “but it won’t be anywhere near as tough as what we as a family have went through.”

The event begins at 11am and will be held in ‘Train with Spark’ Gym on Main Street, Beragh.

Eimear encourages anybody interested in finding out more to get in touch with her via her Facebook page, or call her on 07719585102.

There is a JustGiving page set up for the event which is easily accessed through Eimear’s Facebook.

“The Red Cross are like superheroes – they aren’t in it for praise or money,” said Eimear, “they are the people who you can count on when the worst comes and you don’t know where to turn.”