Co Cork community come together to rebuild family home severely damaged by blaze
|
1 hr ago
A FIRE THAT devastated a family home in Co Cork ultimately brought a community together in an 'unreal' show of support, a local woman said.
Speaking on Cork's 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan, Edel O'Regan shared how earlier this month, she was sitting down with her family at their home in Dunderrow near Kinsale when her son entered the house's garage.
'He had a carbon monoxide alarm on his belt and he went into the garage and he just heard a beep,' she told presenter Paul Byrne.
He then discovered that there was black smoke coming from the corner of the garage and ran and alerted the family.
The house and garage went up in flames. The fire worked its way down from the top of the house, leaving the foundation and kitchen in place.
The family lost cars, a bedroom, tools, TVs and beds in the blaze.
Edel O'Regan
Edel O'Regan
The fire brigade came to the scene and managed to put out the fire before it could do any further damage throughout the house. The family are yet to discover the cause of the fire.
Advertisement
'We were devastated. Absolutely devastated,' Edel said.
'But to be honest, within 24 hours our spirits were lifted.'
By 7am the following morning, there were ten men on the site with machinery and equipment, and by 10am, there were 60 people there.
'They had the whole place gutted out by 4pm and they were working on the scaffolding. Unreal.'
Edel O'Regan
Edel O'Regan
Edel said that whole experience was 'overwhelming' and 'emotional'.
The crew worked through the weekend, with 36 men working to have the O'Regans house roofed and slated by Sunday evening.
Others contributed by providing the workers with breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the repair while local farmers brought water tanks.
Edel told the radio programme that the saga left the family 'totally overwhelmed by the community we have', and that they are incredibly proud to be part of the Dunderrow community.
'We thought we'd be looking at ruins for a year. Now we're painting walls two weeks later.'
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Co Cork community come together to rebuild family home severely damaged by blaze
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago A FIRE THAT devastated a family home in Co Cork ultimately brought a community together in an 'unreal' show of support, a local woman said. Speaking on Cork's 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan, Edel O'Regan shared how earlier this month, she was sitting down with her family at their home in Dunderrow near Kinsale when her son entered the house's garage. 'He had a carbon monoxide alarm on his belt and he went into the garage and he just heard a beep,' she told presenter Paul Byrne. He then discovered that there was black smoke coming from the corner of the garage and ran and alerted the family. The house and garage went up in flames. The fire worked its way down from the top of the house, leaving the foundation and kitchen in place. The family lost cars, a bedroom, tools, TVs and beds in the blaze. Edel O'Regan Edel O'Regan The fire brigade came to the scene and managed to put out the fire before it could do any further damage throughout the house. The family are yet to discover the cause of the fire. Advertisement 'We were devastated. Absolutely devastated,' Edel said. 'But to be honest, within 24 hours our spirits were lifted.' By 7am the following morning, there were ten men on the site with machinery and equipment, and by 10am, there were 60 people there. 'They had the whole place gutted out by 4pm and they were working on the scaffolding. Unreal.' Edel O'Regan Edel O'Regan Edel said that whole experience was 'overwhelming' and 'emotional'. The crew worked through the weekend, with 36 men working to have the O'Regans house roofed and slated by Sunday evening. Others contributed by providing the workers with breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the repair while local farmers brought water tanks. Edel told the radio programme that the saga left the family 'totally overwhelmed by the community we have', and that they are incredibly proud to be part of the Dunderrow community. 'We thought we'd be looking at ruins for a year. Now we're painting walls two weeks later.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
Council considers installing flower beds to stop tourists 'molesting' Molly Malone statue
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL will no longer employ stewards to stop tourists groping the Molly Malone statue, and is instead considering installing flower beds around the base to act as an obstacle. Posing while grabbing the Suffolk Street statue's 'lucky' breasts has become a popular photo opportunity for tourists in recent years. DCC told The Journal the tourist habit has become 'ingrained'. A spokesperson said: 'When approached not to touch the statue, people were generally cooperative, but without stewards the behaviour returns and is ingrained, apparently, as part of [a tourist's] visit to Dublin.' 'It is difficult to change this behaviour, so we are exploring other avenues of protection for the sculpture, including installing flower beds around the base,' they added. The story was first reported by the Irish Daily Star . The council had employed stewards to patrol around the statue for one week in May to protect the statue and prevent further damage. Tourists touching the statue's breasts has caused discolouration and Dublin City Council is now organising for restoration of the statue as the patination is damaged. Advertisement The origins of rubbing Molly Malone's chest area for good luck is suspected to have begun in 2012 by a tour guide, or guides. 'Molly Malone' by Irish sculptor Jeanne Rynhart was erected at the northern end of Grafton Street in 1988. It was moved around the corner to Suffolk Street a decade ago to make way for the Luas. Social Democrats councillor Cat O'Driscoll, chair of Dublin City Council's sub-committee that covers arts and culture, told The Journal that tour groups are more likely to 'molest' the statue than individual tourists. Tour guides are now asking tourists not to touch the statue. Councillor O'Driscoll said installing flower beds is the strongest solution available to protect the statue. She said: 'It takes away the possibility of people climbing up.' The Arts Council considered different options to protect Molly Malone, including raising the height of the statue, adding a fence around it, or moving it. However, O'Driscoll believes flower beds will have the most impact. She said planting flowers at the base of the statue will not take away from it, but add colour to an otherwise grey area. She said many statues in Dublin frequently have to be repaired due to public interaction, including the Phil Lynott statue on Grafton Street and the Luke Kelly statue at the Point; however statues of women are the most targeted. 'I do believe women's statues are much more likely to be sexualised compared to male statues, and we don't commemorate enough women in our public art. When we do, they tend to be more mythical people. Why can't we celebrate women the way we do with men?' she asked. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
16-07-2025
- The Journal
Ireland's oldest person dies aged 108
SARAH COYLE, BELIEVED to be Ireland's oldest person at the age of 108, has died. Ms Coyle passed away on Monday, 14 July, ten days before she was to turn 109. She was born on 24 July, 1916. Advertisement Her grandson Thomas said that she died peacefully surrounded by her family. She was living with her daughter Marian Gilligan in Castleknock, Co Dublin. In an interview with the Irish Times in April this year, Ms Coyle's daughter spoke about her mother's childhood in Co Wicklow. She had significant memories of the Black and Tans' operations in her locality as a girl, as well as memories of the War of Independence (1919-1921) and the Civil War (1922-1923). Ms Coyle married and settled in Drumcondra, having four children, two of whom sadly died as newborns. Ms Coyle's sister Lily was 103 in April. He brother Andy reached the age of 101. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
