Fire destroys family home in Cloghans Hill

Galway Bay fm newsroom – John Griffin and his wife Josephine from Cloghans Hill, Tuam, on the Galway-Mayo border, are searching for accommodation after their house burnt down last night

The Griffins lost their family home and its contents when fire ripped through the building last night

John and Josephine Griffin were left with little more than the clothes on their backs as flames engulfed their home during the storm

Their grandchildren are lucky to have Christmas presents as these were rescued from beneath the tree in the blazing building by brave fire fighters.

The couple was asleep when they were alerted by the ringing of the smoke alarm at approximately 11 last night

Now the family is seeking to rent a house for the Christmas, as family members including their son Wayne and his wife Vicky who are flying in from China tonight will not be celebrating the festive season in the family home this year as planned.

However John and Josephine are happy to be alive after firefighters from Ballinrobe, Tuam, Claremorris and Castlebar battled for over three hours to get the blaze under control in the early hours of today