So, like, this crazy fire totally wrecked more than half of the Doagh Famine Village in Co Donegal, which is a hot spot for tourists. The owner, Pat Doherty, and his sister Majella have been running this place for over 30 years, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into it. But get this – forensic peeps have figured out that the fire was started by an outdoor air compressor. Yeah, you heard me right, a tiny air compressor caused all this chaos. Pat explained that the compressor was used to make one of the displays move, but it went haywire due to either a loose wire or overheating. And with all the dry grass around, the fire spread like nobody’s business, especially with the help of a strong sea breeze. Talk about a disaster, right?
Pat recalls seeing a small fire at first when a group of motorbike riders from Cavan were visiting. They tried to put it out but the flames were too fast and furious. The fire broke out around 3.20 pm on a Saturday, and it took four units of the Donegal Fire Service several hours to get it under control. Luckily, there were about 50 visitors at the attraction at the time, and no one was hurt. Pat was still in shock on Monday, standing amidst the rubble and feeling like a bomb went off. His sister, Majella, added that it was a devastating sight.
The damage is beyond belief. The replica Orange Hall, a republican safe house, a museum dedicated to the Travelling community, and all the local history exhibits related to the Famine – all gone in a blaze. The Orange lodges had donated flags and items for the Orange Hall display, which now are just ashes. Pat remembered the time during the Troubles when members of an Orange Lodge wanted to donate flags but were too scared to cross the Border. It’s sad to see all those memories reduced to nothing.
But the worst part? Their insurance doesn’t cover fire damage, especially to thatch roofs and antiques. A real bummer, considering the blood, sweat, and tears that went into building up the village. Firefighters managed to save about half of the village, including the original cottages where the Doherty family lived back in the day. They’re hopeful about reopening, but it’s all up in the air at this point. Maybe they can use another building across the road, but who knows when that will happen. It’s a waiting game now.
Majella expressed the heartbreak of losing years’ worth of hard work and memories. The village was like their baby, and they poured their hearts into it every single day. The Gofundme page set up to help them rebuild has a goal of €100,000, which just shows the outpouring of support from the community. The Garda did their thing with a technical examination of the scene, but we’re not really sure what they found out. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like a lot of unanswered questions linger in the air.
In the end, the Doagh Famine Village will rise from the ashes, albeit slowly. The loss is immense, but the spirit of rebuilding is strong. Pat and Majella may have lost a big part of their lives, but the memories and the hope for the future remain untouched.
