24 hours after appearing on the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s RedFM an emotional Abbey Moore was back on air this morning, to thank the people of Cork for their unbelievable support after hearing her story.
Abbey and her family were left devastated when their Ballincollig home was completely destroyed by fire last month, forcing three generations into emergency accommodation and relatives’ spare rooms. Eight people had been living in the family home including Abbey and her partner, her sister Katie and her partner with their two small children Aoíbhe and Rían, and their parents Cáit and Martin.
The family’s insurance had lapsed in recent months due to financial pressures, leaving them facing an uncertain future. Abbey went on RedFM earlier in the week to appeal for help and the response from Cork people has been nothing short of extraordinary.
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.
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 Prendeville this morning.
The fire itself was a terrifying ordeal. Abbey’s sister Katie was the first to notice smoke and raised the alarm. What followed was, as Abbey describes, “chaotic” a desperate rush to get the two children and their grandparents out safely. In an act of courage, Abbey even reentered the burning home to help her mother escape.
“By the time we came out of the house, the fire was bursting out the windows and the windows were exploding. It happened so fast. We stood on the green just watching. It was terrifying,” Abbey recalled.
The house was gutted, with the interior reduced to charred black walls and the roof destroyed. For now, a tarp is all that keeps out the wind and rain.
Since the fire, Abbey’s parents Cáit and Martin have been placed in emergency accommodation, while Abbey and Katie are living separately with their in laws. “It’s been an absolute nightmare situation,” Abbey said.
But hope is returning. Several Cork building firms and tradespeople, builders suppliers, a project manager, interiors companies and even a landscape company have committed to helping rebuild the family home. A GoFundMe appeal set up by Abbey’s friends Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan has raised over €27,000 so far, with donations pouring in from across the country.
On the fundraising page, the organisers wrote: “We would really appreciate any support you can give the Moore family as they come to terms with the devastating loss of their home and belongings. This fundraiser will help cover their immediate needs and urgent costs while they face the uncertainty of the months ahead.”
Abbey says words can’t describe the gratitude she feels towards the people of Cork. “We can never thank you enough. You’ve given us back hope.”
You can donate to the family’s GoFundMe www.gofundme.com/f/house-fire-devastates-family-home-in-cork
Discover more from All About Cork
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
