Fire family back in their home in time for Christmas

A retired North Galway couple whose house went up in flames last April are now back and looking forward to Christmas in their totally renovated home.

Billy and Marian Staunton from Moylough were devastated when their house was destroyed by fire despite Herculean efforts by neighbours to bring the blaze under control.

But when word of what happened spread throughout the local community and beyond, the couple could scarcely believe what was to come over the following weeks and months.

Within days, they were inundated with support – both financially and from those involved in the construction trade – and it was not long before a committee was formed to help out the Stauntons.

Builders, roofers, plumbers, electricians and painters all volunteered to provide their services free of charge in order to get Billy and Marian back into their home.

It was shortly after 7am on the Saturday morning, April 9, that Billy was up making tea in the kitchen when he saw what looked like a fog outside.

But on closer examination he discovered that a fire had broken out in the living room. He alerted his wife Marian who was still in bed and they both made their escape as the fire quickly spread through their home.

Efforts by neighbours and passers-by to bring it under control were unsuccessful such was the speed at which the blaze ravaged the house.

In the immediate aftermath, the couple moved in with their daughter before they were offered a house to rent just opposite their own home for a modest amount.

There was then a huge community effort to renovate the house – and this was completed in recent weeks and it allowed Billy and Marian to move back into their own home.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.