Ballincollig Family Loses Everything in House Fire
Ballincollig house fire leaves family of eight homeless after losing everything.
A Ballincollig family has lost their home and all belongings in a house fire last Friday night, prompting lifelong friends to launch an urgent fundraising appeal to help them rebuild their lives.
Katie and Abbey Moore lost their childhood home in Ballincollig, Cork, where they were living with their parents Cáit and Martin, partners Tadhg and Dave, and Katie and Tadhg's young children Aoíbhe, aged four, and one-year-old Rían.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire service coverage in Ballincollig, where the local fire station on Leo Murphy Link Road has been completely closed since November 2021. Response times to the area have increased from approximately seven to eight minutes when the station was operational to 10 to 12 minutes, with fire services now responding from Anglesea Street.
Despite multiple recruitment campaigns, Cork City Council has been unable to recruit retained firefighters for the station. The closure followed the station's transfer from Cork County Council to Cork City Council after boundary changes in May 2019.
A 2025 Fire Cover Review reportedly highlights "the urgent need" for a new full-time fire station between Ballincollig and Bishopstown, citing inadequate fire cover in the south-west area of Cork City.
Friends Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan have organised the fundraising effort to support the Moore family as they face the uncertainty of the months ahead after losing everything in the devastating blaze.
Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan, family friends:
"We are trying to support them as they start to rebuild their lives again. Katie and Abbey have suddenly lost their childhood home in Ballincollig, Cork, where they were living with their parents Cáit & Martin, partners Tadhg & Dave and Katie and Tadhg's beautiful young kids Aoíbhe (4) & Rían (1)."
The fundraiser aims to help cover the family's immediate needs and urgent costs as they come to terms with the devastating loss of their home and belongings.
The organisers have expressed gratitude for the support already offered by the community over the weekend, which has provided comfort to the family during this difficult time.
Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan:
"Special thanks to everyone who has kindly offered support and well wishes over the weekend. It has meant so much to them. We are also thinking of Anthony & Martin Jnr at this time."
Cork City Council's emergency management director, David Joyce, has reportedly confirmed that work is underway to identify a suitable site for a new fire station, with a funding application to follow. The timeline for implementing the Fire Cover Review recommendations is reportedly one to three years, depending on funding availability.
The appeal emphasises that every donation, regardless of size, will make a meaningful difference as the family attempts to rebuild their lives. Those unable to donate are being asked to share the appeal to help reach more people who might be able to contribute.
Louise Aherne and Laura Hogan:
"Every donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference as they try to rebuild their lives. If you can't donate, please consider sharing this appeal to help us reach more people."
