Antiques store and home go up in flames
COUNTLESS irreplaceable antiques and collectables, as well as a family home, went up in flames on Saturday night in Wellingtonbridge as a fire ripped through a much-loved antique store.
Owner Patrick Reville had been out celebrating his birthday on Saturday night when he received a call to say that his home and shop had gone up in flames and the Fire Service were at the scene.
While a total of three units from the fire service battled to salvage what they could, by the time the flames subsided Patrick was left with little more than charred rubble.
‘It’s all gone,’ a dejected Patrick said.
‘The house, the shop, everything. I wasn’t here when it happened. I was out celebrating my birthday.
‘I think a local farmer who was out spreading manure spotted it and he called the fire brigade.
‘I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I have young lads in college and everything and this was my only source of income.’
Unfortunately for Patrick, the majority of the contents of the shop were somewhat irreplaceable.
‘Mainly I had old crafts and tools,’ he said.
‘There would have been tools that were 200 years old and old military items and medals and that type of thing. Basically, I’m left with what I’m wearing and that’s it.’
According to Patrick, it is still unclear what caused the fire, however, the fire service suspect it may have been electrical.
Despite being dealt such a cruel hand, Patrick is trying to remain upbeat.
‘They’re looking into it at the minute,’ he said.
‘I would hope to be back up and running at some stage in some shape or form, maybe not on the same scale.
‘All I have left is the car and the van at the moment, but hopefully I can get something back up and running again.’