A fundraiser for a family of eight who lost their Killybegs home in a devastating fire has reached over €60,000 in just a day.
The Gatins family were left with nothing after a fire ripped through their family home on Thursday evening.
Members of the local community have rallied behind Fergal, a local firefighter, his wife Niamh, and their six children as they will have to try and rebuild their family home.
Donegal Senator Manus Boyle described the Gatins as “a great family.”
“They’re a great family and it’s devastating that this happened,” Senator Boyle, a Killybegs native, told Donegal Daily.
“They’re hard working, community spirited, and their children are involved in local GAA as well. They’re a good role model for families in Killybegs and everywhere.”
He says that it has been a “soul destroying” ordeal for the family, who are “the salt of the earth.”
“Every bit they had was in the house and it’s just soul destroying. Here we’re all thinking locally about what we can do, the two of them are the salt of the earth.”
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“You couldn’t go to anyone who would have your back more.”
The Donegal Firefighters Association set up a GoFundMe page to help support their colleague Fergal yesterday.
In just over 24 hours, €60,000 has been raised for the Gatins at the time of writing.
With over 1,000 people contributing to the fundraiser, its organisers have also set a new goal of €100,000.
You can view the fundraiser by clicking here.