COUPLE’S ANGUISH AS THATCHED COTTAGE GOES UP IN SMOKE
A LOCAL couple, whose thatched cottage in Grange, Kilmore – and most of their possessions – were destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon, have expressed their gratitude to the people of their local community who rallied around them following the dreadful shock.
John Dillon and his partner Ann Bradshaw were at home on Sunday afternoon when they heard a knock at the door at around 4.30 p.m. from a passer-by warning them of sparks coming from the thatched roof.
Mr Dillon said: ‘We had a look and contacted the fire brigade straight away.’
The fire service was on the scene promptly and worked well into the night to fight the fire, dampening down the thatch and stripping it away from the building. They were not stood down until after 2 a.m. on Monday morning.
Mr Dillon remarked: ‘They were here for a long time. It’s a big house and it’s high so it wasn’t the easiest to access. We don’t know how it happened and the reality is that we won’t know for a while.’
Yesterday (Monday), the upset couple were salavaging what they could from the wreckage with Mr Dillon saying that most of their personal items had been destroyed. Originally from Wexford town, he had spent a lot of time
in Dublin before moving back to his home county, and moving into the cottage in Grange about two years ago.
‘We absolutely love it down here. We were tenants in the house but we had been considering buying it because we like the area so much.’
Mr Dillon said that they had been overwhelmed by the support they received from people in the locality - not just people they knew but even those they did not.
‘People have been absolutely wonderful; we’ve had every offer you can possibly get of help and support. It makes you realise how lucky you are to live in such a supportive community.’
The couple have been offered accommodation by friends while they pick up the pieces and get back on their feet.
‘It’s not the greatest start to the year but we’ll just have to move on and do our best,’ said Mr Dillon.