Funds being raised for woman (85) whose thatched cottage burned down in Cork

Olivia Kelleher

Close to €6,000 has been raised to purchase a mobile home for an 85-year-old woman whose thatched cottage near Inch in Killeagh, Co Cork, was totally destroyed by fire.

Margaret Adams moved to Ireland from the UK two decades ago. She lived “very happily” in her beautiful little home with her rescue donkeys, dogs, and ducks.

Unfortunately, a fire broke out at the property on the morning of March 20th last.

Margaret was fortunate to escape with her life as the blaze took hold so quickly.

Her friend Bernie Fleming says that the “quick actions” of a neighbour led to the saving of dogs Misty and Freddie. The dogs are the the pride and joy of the kind hearted pensioner.

The other animals owned by Ms Adams were not in the cottage when the fire started.

However, Ms Fleming says sadly Margaret lost all of her other possessions.

“Everything she ever owned. All her memories were gone. It was a terrible ordeal for her.

As Margaret had no relatives in Ireland she went back to the UK to her brother temporarily but she now wishes to return to her own place again.

Sadly she had no insurance on her home. It was a thatched house and the company she was with prior weren't covering homes with thatch anymore.

She is now in a situation where she cannot afford to rebuild it so she is hoping to get a mobile home for which she has only a tiny budget. This is far from ideal for Margaret at (close to) 86 years of age plus health issues.”

Ms Fleming says that Margaret has been hospitalised a few times in the past year. She indicates that funds are being raised to get a “good mobile home” with heating, double glazing and possibly insulation.

“It is going to be very difficult and so very sad for her when she returns again to the ruins of what was once her beautiful home.”

She adds that all local people want to do is raise funds to get Margaret a little place where she can feel “comfortable and happy again” with her beloved dogs as it is her “dearest wish” to get back to them.

Donations can be made to the Adams Go Fund me appeal at https://gofund.me/349dde07