The community of Cork has led an initiative to fully restore the home of the Moore family in Ballincollig, following a devastating house fire five months ago. Led by The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s RedFM, the Rebel Rebuild project reached its finale this week, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Cork’s tradespeople, local businesses, and the wider community who donated time, labour and materials to get the family back on their feet.
Neil visited the newly-restored house, which had been completely destroyed by fire, forcing three generations into emergency accommodation and relatives’ spare rooms. Eight people had been living in the family home, including Abbey Moore and her partner, her sister Katie and her partner with their two small children Aoíbhe and Rían, and their parents Cáit and Martin.
The fire itself was a terrifying ordeal as the family rushed to safety. The house was gutted, with the interior reduced to charred black walls and the roof destroyed.
The family’s insurance had lapsed due to financial pressures, leaving them facing an uncertain future. Abbey went on RedFM shortly after the fire to appeal for help and the response from Cork people was nothing short of extraordinary, with people donating generously to a GoFund Me set up to raise money for the family.
Within a day, the programme was inundated with offers from builders, electricians, plumbers, tilers, roofers, fireplace providers, blind makers, gardeners and project managers, all pledging their time, skills and products free of charge to rebuild the Moore family home. The tradespeople and suppliers – including Solar Path, who donated a full solar panel installation – worked tirelessly to ensure the home was finished to the highest standards.
Abbey said she and her family were “blown away” by the kindness. “All the stress and worry is now gone thanks to the people of Cork,” she told Neil.
Neil joined project manager Damien Cuffe to walk the Moore family through their newly-restored home, featuring a brand-new top-floor conversion that adds essential living space previously lost in the blaze.
The project has been hailed as one of the “feel-good stories of the year,” with listeners nominating those involved for Local Hero awards.
“The Rebel Rebuild has shown just how strong and supportive the Cork community can be. To see the Moore family return to a safe, beautiful home after such a traumatic event is the ultimate win for everyone involved, “ said Neil.
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